Mona Lisa’s ‘twin sister’ discovered in Spain’s Prado art museum

TorontoStar.com ^ | Feb 01 2012 | Sinikka Tarvainen

[Daffynition]

MADRID—Spain’s Prado art museum said Wednesday it had discovered an unusual copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s “La Gioconda,” painted by one of the master’s pupils at the same time that the original was being completed.

The copy had been on display at the Madrid art museum for years without experts being aware of its importance.

A routine restoration led experts to discover that the dark background behind the female figure popularly known as Mona Lisa had been added afterward and that it covered an Italian landscape similar to that in da Vinci’s original.

[Daffynition]

A file photo of Leonardo da Vinci's original "Mona Lisa" (L) which hangs in the Louvre in Paris, and a recently discovered and restored copy of the "Mona Lisa" painting as it was displayed at Madrid's El Prado Museum is seen in this combination photo. The recently restored copy was completed by one of Da Vinci's apprentices most likely at the same time as the master himself painted the original.

[Daffynition]

[fieldmarshaldj]

Guilty.

[Daffynition]

Can you imagine if the painting had fallen in to the hands of the Moors?

[fieldmarshaldj]

[Doc Savage]

Cripes! That matches the da Vinci I found in my attic last week!

[reed13k]

I actually like the one with the red sleeves better I think it is more vivid

[Chainmail]

Dash 2 is better looking - but not by much..

Note the difference in height of the top of her head.

[SMARTY]

The story was that the a male sat for the DaVinci portrait...it was the artist’s boyfriend.

The original Mona Lisa was a punk and the copy was probably a female sitter, so that’s why they look different.

Think so?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Myrna Lisa?

[Chainmail]

I've heard that theory before and I certainly can't tell...The major difference between the paintings is the height of the top of the head on Number 2 and a subtle improvement around the eyes, making the subject more feminine.

Nonetheless, if that is an example of what passed for pretty back then, it's amazing that they reproduced at all.

[RummyChick]

WOW ,big difference to my eye. #2 definitely looks more female.

[SMARTY]

The idea of feminine beauty has certainly evolved through time and in different cultures.

It seems like it’s at a new low right now. A woman is only appealing if she gets herself up like a hooker?

Sad.

[KarlInOhio]

painted by one of the master’s pupils at the same time that the original was being completed.

I get this vision of Leonardo as Bob Ross at the head of his painting class with a dozen Mona Lisas being painted. "Now paint some happy trees in the background..."

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"...it's amazing that they reproduced at all."

They still had wine.

[Daffynition]

[Pravious]

The “real thing” is alive. It’s looking at you. It has a soul.

The copy... is a painting.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Who can say what inspired that enigmatic smile...

[Daffynition]

She was the inspiration for many at the OWS fiascos.