what is so special about the mona lisa ?

Question

i realise its a well executed work but i can't see why this would be singled out as the quintessential masterpiece, especially when comparing it to other paintings which were made during a similar time. What are it's qualities, other than being a bit dull

Answer 1

It's a very important work. Leonardo da Vinci did not complete many paintings to this level of finish and it is also a superb example of the sfumato technique he invented. It also illustrates da Vinci's moti mentali, or motions of the mind. A moments thought caught in a facial gesture. The landscape depicted in the painting is a place where Leonardo would have probably surveyed on during his work with Cesare Borgia and thus gives credence to Leonardo's movements during his life time. This is part of its importance as a piece of art history.

As for its fame, well that has a lot to do with the mystery that surrounds the painting. What you have to appreciate is that you as a viewer has the right to like or dislike a painting but its importance is of no relevance to the general public . Its value lies with what information it can provide for the art historian. I agree that there have been far more beautiful paintings created during the Renaissance and beyond and that many painters other than Leonardo contributed to art but (and I'm putting my art historians hat on now) you can not compare a painting which is simply nice to look at to a painting which imparts so much valuable information and demands constant research.

Answer 2

The contention that the "Mona Lisa" was painted by Leonardo as a self-portrait and that its title is a coded reference to the names of the Egyptian gods Amon and Isis: Mona Lisa's historical identity is unknown, but the majority opinion is that the painting depicts Lisa Gherardini, a family friend of Leonardo's. However, some researchers have concluded, using "morphing" techniques, that the resemblance to Leonardo's alleged self-portrait is striking (Lillian Schwartz of Bell Labs, and Digby Quested of the Maudsley Hospital in London). At any rate, the title "Mona Lisa" was not chosen by Leonardo, and was not applied to the painting until the 19th century. "Mona" is a contraction of "madonna" (meaning 'lady' or 'madam'); "Lisa" is from an identification with Lisa Gherardini. It is also more commonly known as "La Gioconda" in Italian (Gherardini's married surname, the feminine form of "Giocondo"). The painting was kept by Leonardo and was with him when he died, which can be construed as a hint that the image had some special significance. It is, however, perfectly possible that the Mona Lisa was just another painting and Leonardo kept it for perfectly mundane reasons (eg. a dispute over payment).

It was the only painting da vinci said was his best work and he carried it every where with him.

Answer 3

The painting is so great, in my opinion, because of it‘s value which
cannot even be estimated. If, in common knowledge, there were no
attached value as being out of all proportion, I suspect that interest
in viewing this masterpiece would be quite small in comparison to
what it is today. It is a great painting and I am only suggesting that
people are, more often than not, interested in appraising value over
quality. It makes one curious and proud to say "I have seen the Mona
Lisa" live. Even if you are not pleased by the image, you will go and
try to find out what others see in this portrait. I, for one, would not
stand in a queue to appraise "Mona Lisa" so perhaps I am dumb!
You hit the nail on the head when you mention it as being "dull".

Answer 4

It´s qualities are as follows~

1. Extrardinary use of chiaroscuro (dark and light)
2. Extraordianry use of sfumato (blending of dark/light tones
3. Sexual ambiguity
4. Use of mystical landscape background. These are a common feature in many da Vinci´s, but sometimes are damaged or have been obliterated (as in the Lady with the Ermine).
4. The famous smile (la Giaconda is only smiling on one side, of course)

It is silly to single out any one picture as a masterpiece as it only makes sense to compare like works, and the variety of artistic styles is so many.

The fame of the Mona Lisa dates from its theft from the Louvre back in the 1880s. Leonardo was not regarded as the greatest of the Renaissance painters then~usually Raphael held that status.

Answer 5

The painting really isn't special. Nothing is. it's the human condition that has made it important. It's multiple references, the creation of the mystery, the myth of the woman. As we live in a democracy, worth is a great part of what significance human made objects have. The longer we hold something as important the more special that item becomes until it is overblown in the humans psyche as something that must be seen.

I went to visit the Louvre (excuse spelling) and the amount of people standing around the Mona Lisa was crazy. Everybody was taking photographs of the Mona Lisa, taking videos of it (as if it was going to move or something)... most of the people took photographs of the people looking at the Mona Lisa in the distance. I hope that was worth it.

We as a race always have to have objects of desire, objects of worth to justify our existence. When we realise that we haven't done anything of worth in our lives, at least we can say "I've seen the Mona Lisa" and by then, we can rest in peace... possibly

Answer 6

To begin with, the Mona Lisa was the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo (and this is where it got its other name: La Gioconda). It was said that the family of del Giocondo was moving to a new house, and thought of having a portrait of Senora del Giocondo. The catch is, no aristocratic woman used to wear the same clothes those drawn in the Mona Lisa, more precisely the black dress and the gold sleeves. However, signs of aristocratic status is clearly shown in the veil on the head of Senora del Giocondo in the painting. Many say that it could have been that the del Giocondos were having a funeral, which explains why Lisa was dressed in black, and they also say that Leonardo da Vinci tried to humor Lisa because she was sad from the lost of a loved one, and this explains her semi-smile that amazed artists for centuries which is also a very good example of a "grace under pressure".

Answer 7

The principal 'thing' about the Mona Lisa, is that her eyes appear to follow you around the room as you move in front of the painting. This effect can be replicated in photography if the subject looks directly into the lens of the camera, but was very unusual up to the time the portrait was painted.

Answer 8

I know what you mean - I find it rather hard to get excited by it. It is well executed, for sure (it has to be admitted that Da Vinci was a genius), but I've never really understood why it's singled out above thousands of other paintings.

It's also rather small, and there are so many gullible tourists gathered round it at the Louvre that you can't get close to it anyway. All in all rather disappointing, and not worth the trouble.

Answer 9

Ive seen the mona lisa in person in paris and i can tell u first hand. Its a HUGE let down. firstly its tiny. secondly whats the interested in a moany looking woman with an odd nose? comparing it to others painting like monet or cezanne it lacks quality. da vinci could have added a bit of colour :)

Answer 10

Leonardo Da Vinci is what is special about the Mona Lisa.