Manuscript Reveals True Identity of Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa's true identity has been revealed at last. Experts at Heidelberg University library say a manuscript they unearthed reveals that she was Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Franceso del Giocondo.

The enigmatic smiling woman painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the sixteenth century has for long been known simply as the "Mona Lisa." But her true identity was a mystery, providing fodder for countless theories. Now a manuscript hidden away in a German library may have unlocked the key to her real name.

Heidelberg University library confirmed last Friday a German radio report that its researchers had discovered the true identity of the model in the famous 16th century portrait. She was Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant, Franceso del Giocondo.

The director of the university library, Veit Probst, said the mystery was unravelled after a book was found in the library archive that once belonged to a friend of da Vinci. In October of 1503 the Florentine official Agostino Vespuccui wrote a note in the margins of one page, saying that his friend was working on three paintings, one of them a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo. The note, scribbled into a collection of letters by the Roman orator Cicero, compares the Florentine painter and sculptor to the ancient Greek artist Apelles.

Full story, Source: Der Spiegel

Hey, that's interesting: proof of an idea that's been floating around since Vasari, and an authoritative end to that stupid idea it was da Vinci in drag.

--Jaylemurph

This will be sure to garner some hatred, but I never really saw what was so great about the Mona Lisa to begin with. Da Vinci created far better artwork than that one, single painting.

You know, you'd think that the discovery of this book would put to rest the theories, but I can guarantee that there will be people trying to disprove the validity of the notes in said book. And the argument will continue most likely.

Go to your local community college and take an art appreciation class, or nose through an art history textbook: without knowing the context of the work, or what place it has Western Art, it might not immediately be apparent how important it is.

If nothing else, it made sure that this piece of work came into existence:



[The LHOOQ at the bottom, by the way, means something along the lines of "She has a nice ass."

--Jaylemurph

Now, THAT I can at least understand.. lol

And that's one of the most important pieces of 20th Century Art -- like lots of people, you know more than you think!

--Jaylemurph

I wonder if the lady had eyebrows in real life. Always bugged me.

HN

Amen to that.