Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Louvre: The Mona Lisa Is Deteriorating
AP ^ | April 26, 2004

Posted on 04/26/2004 10:21:27 AM PDT by presidio9

The Mona Lisa (search), Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece of a mysterious woman with a slight smile, is deteriorating, and the Louvre Museum (search) said Monday it will conduct an in-depth technical study to determine why.

The thin panel of poplar wood that the work is painted on has become deformed since conservation experts last evaluated the painting, the Louvre said in a written statement. It did not say when the last evaluation was.

The Louvre said the condition of the Mona Lisa was causing "some worry" and that a new study on the state of the work has been launched.

The study, to be conducted by the Center for Research and Restoration of Museums of France, is to better determine what materials the painting is made of and evaluate the painting's special vulnerability to climate changes.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: davinci; florence; godsgravesglyphs; italy; leonardo; leonardodavinci; monalisa; santissimaannunziata; thelouvre
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-112 next last
To: Savage Beast; azhenfud
Just so we're clear about something: Da Vinci was the product of Italian culture, not French.
41 posted on 04/26/2004 11:20:19 AM PDT by presidio9 (Rangers Lead The Way!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Da Vinci had such a mania for innovation that he often used techniques on permanent works that were yet to be proved reliable. Many Renaissance frescoes remain in good shape, but the surface of the Last Supper is half gone.
42 posted on 04/26/2004 11:20:42 AM PDT by Taliesan (fiction police)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #43 Removed by Moderator

To: farmfriend
Dan Brown has made something of a cottage industry on that theory and its (tenuous) connections to the mother of all conspiracy theories, the Priory of Sion.

It could have been a great story, but Brown isn't a particularly good author. Oh well. Just more deterioration.
44 posted on 04/26/2004 11:23:42 AM PDT by NCSteve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
The Mona Lisa Is Deteriorating

And how.

45 posted on 04/26/2004 11:24:38 AM PDT by Mike Bates (Artist Formerly Known as mikeb704.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Captain Peter Blood
Our youngest daughter, 14 at the time, stood in front of it for ten minutes then said "I don't get it" and walked away.
46 posted on 04/26/2004 11:24:59 AM PDT by wtc911 (Europe without God plus islam = Eurabia)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Yes. And the Victoire and the Venus were products of Greek culture.
47 posted on 04/26/2004 11:26:55 AM PDT by Savage Beast ("Whom will the terrorists vote for? Not George Bush--that's for sure!" ~Happy2BMe)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
I was in France last year and saw it again. Although it is behind a glass case, they still allow flash photography of the painting which is known to deteriorate and accellerate the aging process.

There are much better paintings in Le Louvre. Being a painter myself, I've always been baffled as to what becomes a "famous" painting or not. It's not usually the talent of the artist but maybe the reputation...one will never really know.
48 posted on 04/26/2004 11:28:03 AM PDT by sonserae
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
>Mona Lisa

I think Ginerva
is much more cool, and the Girl
with Ferret
, weirder . . .


49 posted on 04/26/2004 11:28:42 AM PDT by theFIRMbss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Mona Lisa could be a drag queen.. probably is. whatever it was called in those days. Looks like a man with a womans body. Maybe thats why the grin/smirk.. ugh!. And whats whats up that middle finger thing on her/his arm..
50 posted on 04/26/2004 11:30:28 AM PDT by hosepipe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: aruanan
>Probably because it's not the real Mona Lisa


51 posted on 04/26/2004 11:31:44 AM PDT by theFIRMbss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Eowyn-of-Rohan
Last time I saw it was in 1996. It was not in a sealed case then, as I recall, but there was a sign that, in several languages, stated that no flash photography was allowed... while all around were tourists snapping flash photos.

My parents were at the Louvre a couple of years ago. People were touching the statue of David. My dad was incensed!

52 posted on 04/26/2004 11:33:25 AM PDT by Dianna
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Dianna
My parents were at the Louvre a couple of years ago. People were touching the statue of David.

Ummm.... ah forget it.

53 posted on 04/26/2004 11:35:32 AM PDT by presidio9 (Rangers Lead The Way!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
the painting's special vulnerability to climate changes.

Yes, definitely global warming. She's melting.
54 posted on 04/26/2004 11:36:01 AM PDT by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (Rumble Thee Forth...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
I think the real reason for the deterioration is that Mona just found out that Ozzy Osborne says that the use of pot caused his son Jack to be a user of harder more addictive drugs.
55 posted on 04/26/2004 11:36:53 AM PDT by AxelPaulsenJr (Excellence In Posting Since 1999)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AxelPaulsenJr
Ozzy Osborne says that the use of pot caused his son Jack to be a user of harder more addictive drugs.

Is that so?

56 posted on 04/26/2004 11:37:58 AM PDT by presidio9 (Rangers Lead The Way!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: presidio9; Savage Beast
"Just so we're clear about something: Da Vinci was the product of Italian culture, not French."

That's okay. It's still Bush's fault.

57 posted on 04/26/2004 11:39:11 AM PDT by azhenfud ("He who is always looking up seldom finds others' lost change...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
I saw the Mona Lisa three or four days after "9/11," and I can honestly say I've never been so underwhelmed by a piece of art in my life.

We had been on our then-annual family trip, that year to Provence (my only, and I promise, my last, trip to France). We were due to fly back to the States on 9/12, but the terrorist attacks shut down trans-Atlantic flights, so we flew from Marseilles to Paris to wait for resumption of air service.

We stayed in a hotel within walking distance of the Louvre, and did a lot of museum time. Much of it, to me, was fascinating. Though I can't say I know much about art, I'm not one who looks upon it with disdain. Some of the tapestries in particular (to name one of thousands of examples) were majestic in their beauty, craftsmanship, and size. But the Mona? Sorry, but *yawn*. Maybe it was just the Carolina redneck coming out in me, but I just didn't "get it." Of course, the fact that it was behind glass, in its own very dimly lit room (its faded colors the worse for the low lighting level), and viewable only after a 20-30 minute wait in line didn't help.

I wonder if da Vinci considered the Mona Lisa as his masterpiece when he painted it, or whether it was just "Painting 179" to him? To me, it wasn't in the Top 100 of the Louvre's attractions. I'll take a Renoir any time.
58 posted on 04/26/2004 11:40:40 AM PDT by southernnorthcarolina (I've told you a billion times: stop exaggerating!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: southernnorthcarolina
Quick! Someone find out the DaVinci Code before it's gone forever!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
59 posted on 04/26/2004 11:41:40 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: King Black Robe
tiny living, irreplaceable works of art

I just love that!

60 posted on 04/26/2004 11:41:47 AM PDT by my_pointy_head_is_sharp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-112 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson