Copy of Mona Lisa provides insight into original

To: Republicanprofessor

Medieval artists - as most today - made original sketches of proposed paintings. Most often, these were rendered in charcoal - and then, once satisfied, they would prick the outlines of the sketch with pinholes, put them against the wall or surface to be painted and pounce them with a bag full of powdered charcoal.

Most of da Vinci's original cartoons for the Last Supper were left to his students - most to one in particular.

These 'cartoons' - as well as one of "Mona" - still exist and are in the private collection of Queen Elizabeth.

This is purported to be his 'cartoon' for "Mona"

I find the faint outline of a plant in her hands interesting. Mary Magdalene was known to've been painted with a certain plant in reference to her daughter - a 'code' for those who had eyes to see.

His original "Last Supper" shows an unmistakable FEMALE on the right hand of Jesus - The painting we look at in Milan as the last supper has gone through so much devastation - both deliberate and from horrendous attempts at restoration, from Napoleon's troops, from WW11 bombing and years open to the weather - that it is but a hint of the original. However, copies done - one in the time of - or shortly after - the life of daVinci, almost certainly done by one or more of his students, who had the original cartoons and probably worked on the original - (that started disintegrating almost before it was finished, sue to moisture....) anyway, these copies (the Old Masters often did copies of their paintings) - that survive, retain the true colors and faces of the original.

They also show that the figure on Jesus's right side looks a heckeva more female than male - I can't post the pic here as I don't have it in html format -

21 posted on 09/26/2006 1:08:26 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." Lincoln)

There's something vaguely wrong with that picture but I can't quite put my finger on it...BTT...

22 posted on 09/26/2006 1:12:00 PM PDT by Billthedrill

well, I have found a detail of the figure at the right hand of Jesus from the aforementioned copy done in the life of - or shortly after - daVinci, by one or more of his students, who had in their possession, the original cartoons (sketches) used in the original. (They, very possibly, also worked on the original,) The colors are clearer - "daVinci colors" and the faces truer - This detail photo does not do the painting justice, but I can't post my own photos as they're not in "http" format...

23 posted on 09/26/2006 1:14:37 PM PDT by maine-iac7 ("...but you can't fool all of the people all of the time." Lincoln)

To: Billthedrill

There's something vaguely wrong with that picture but I can't quite put my finger on it...BTT...

..it's the mask, the mask is Chrissie Matthews of "hardball" fame

Doogle

24 posted on 09/26/2006 5:19:36 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF 69-73...."never store a threat you should have eliminated")

No, can't be - the mask has no brain...oh...OK, yeah...

25 posted on 09/26/2006 5:42:15 PM PDT by Billthedrill

To: Billthedrill

:) ......... rrrright

26 posted on 09/26/2006 5:53:13 PM PDT by Doogle (USAF 69-73...."never store a threat you should have eliminated")

To: Wonder Warthog

Art restoration experts face a constant battle in finding a balance between the original appearance of the painting and what people have come to expect the work to look like.

Rennaissance paintings often had brilliant colors that were lost over the years and would shock those used to the muted colors we now see. Even 19th century paintings often look nothing like they did originally because of the varnishes used to protect the paintings.

27 posted on 09/26/2006 5:58:46 PM PDT by MediaMole (9/11 - We have already forgotten.)

"Art restoration experts face a constant battle in finding a balance between the original appearance of the painting and what people have come to expect the work to look like."

Which is why it's important to know the chemistry of the painting. If redone with the original composition of pigments, you'll know you're coming pretty close to the "original" look.

28 posted on 09/26/2006 6:14:22 PM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel-NRA)

Note: this topic is from 9/26/2006. Thanks Republicanprofessor.

29 posted on 01/25/2015 2:33:52 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)

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