Louvre: The Mona Lisa Is Deteriorating

AP ^ | April 26, 2004

[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.

[presidio9]

Just so we're clear about something: Da Vinci was the product of Italian culture, not French.

[Taliesan]

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.

[NCSteve]

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.

[Mike Bates]

The Mona Lisa Is Deteriorating

And how.

[wtc911]

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.

[Savage Beast]

Yes. And the Victoire and the Venus were products of Greek culture.

[sonserae]

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.

[theFIRMbss]

>Mona Lisa

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

[hosepipe]

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..

[theFIRMbss]

>Probably because it's not the real Mona Lisa

[Dianna]

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!

[presidio9]

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

Ummm.... ah forget it.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

the painting's special vulnerability to climate changes.

Yes, definitely global warming. She's melting.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

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.

[presidio9]

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

Is that so?

[azhenfud]

"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.

[southernnorthcarolina]

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.

[Rutles4Ever]

Quick! Someone find out the DaVinci Code before it's gone forever!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

tiny living, irreplaceable works of art

I just love that!