Mona Lisa and "her twin sister"

MONA LISA

AND ANOTHER ENIGMATIC SMILE

This month, in Spain, The Prado Museum restored a painting which was exhibited as a copy of “The Mona Lisa” by Leonardo Da Vinci. They restored it as the background was covered with a thin layer of black paint which dates from the 19th century. The restoration revealed the background and landscape painted by a pupil of Da Vinci who copied his Mona Lisa at the same period. It was only restored now said the curator as the museum possesses many paintings needing cleaning and restoring.

Once restored, it should reveal details and enlighten us about some mysteries about Da Vinci’s art. It is certain that it was painted between 1503 and 1506 in Da Vinci’s workshop.

On March 26th, it will be displayed in the Museum “The Louvres” in Paris next to its original in a temporary exhibition.         

Understanding Leonardo Da Vinci...

This week , The  Guardian art critic, Jonathan Jones analyses five sketches by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Here are the five sketches and below them click to read much more and listen to Jonathan Jones' comments.







A rocky ravine: For Leonardo Da Vinci, water was full of paradox. He described it as "the vehicule of nature", believing water to be to the world what blood is to our body.

 
A Knot Pattern, 1495 (anonymous but based on a lost design by Leonardo Da Vinci).

Five Characters studies: (A man tricked by gypsies). They are known as Leonardo Da Vinci's caricatures.

Sketch of a youth (Study for the Head of Saint James) with designs for Fortifications, 1493.

  Studies of a Male Nude, 1490-91.

Click here to get Jonathan Jones's analysis: Da Vinci