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

TorontoStar.com ^ | Feb 01 2012 | Sinikka Tarvainen

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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.

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And G. Soros in his den>>>>

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A man mona, pasta fazool.

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[count-your-change]

I can see the little numbered sections showing through.

[Ditter]

LOL! I have been in many portrait classes, drawing, pastel and painting, everyone is looking at the same model and that is how different the paintings turn out. Even the very experienced artists will turn out different looking renditions of the same person.

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[TASMANIANRED]

I prefer the copy.

[Ditter]

Now you are on to something! I gave up on painting peoples portraits because they were too hard to please. I starting painting their pets and everyone is happy. :D

[snowsislander]

I wonder if the Prado version is also painted on poplar like the original.

For what it is worth, there's an interesting discussion of the Prado Mona Lisa in this Google book.

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Portraits are difficult in which to achieve an actual likeness, no matter the medium. Requires a very special talent.:)

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Thank you very much, ma'am!

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Thanks for the useful link.

**....the painting was re-examined in 2011 and found to have actually been painted on walnut wood.**

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[Revolting cat!]

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