I am always amazed at how small Leonardo daVinci's 'Mona Lisa" is. It's probably the most famous painting in the world and has always held a "larger than life" image in my head. It is, in fact, only 30" high by 20 7/8" wide. Not big.
Here's some facts you may or may not have known about this painting.
It is believed to have taken four years to paint. From 1503 to 1506, making it around five hundred years old!
The painting is unsigned and undated.
The painting has been declared priceless. There is no monetary value assigned to it, nor is it insured.
Where is she now? She is painting # 779 in the Louvre in Paris.
The thin poplar wood that Ms. Lisa is painted on appears to be deteriorating. There are some extensive studies happening as we speak to try to come up with solutions to maintain this French treasure (of an Italian painting - weird, huh?).
LET'S GO FLYERS !
Posted by: MIKE at April 27, 2004 10:55 AMOther Mona Lisa facts...
The Mona Lisa is encased in a 157-by-98 inch bulletproof box of triplex glass, a gift from the Japanese on the occasion of the painting's 1974 trip to Japan--the last time the painting left the museum.
This box's constant temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 55 percent humidity is maintained by a built-in air conditioner and nine pounds of silica gel. (These are believed to be some of the world's oldest and largest implants.)
Once a year, the Mona Lisa receives a check-up in which the box surrounding it is opened and the climatic conditions as well as the painting's condition are examined.
Posted by: WIllie's Buddy Jimmy at April 27, 2004 10:58 AMAnd she likes to listen to Bruce Springsteen.
Posted by: MIKE at April 27, 2004 11:00 AMWhen I was able to see the Mona Lisa, there were so many people crowded around her. There was an especially large group of Asian tourists who stood there forever. The amount of people reflected in the glass, are there all the time.
Posted by: Oliquig at April 27, 2004 11:06 AMOf course she loves to listen to Bruce Juice. THAT'S why she's smiling.
Posted by: Willie's Buddy Jimmy at April 27, 2004 11:48 AMhey - just wanted to let you know I love your blog and added you to my blogroll (now dont you feel special?! lol).
Posted by: Ro at April 27, 2004 12:39 PMAnd I have to tell you, if you're short, you're so SOL in seeing it because of all the people who are crowding around it to see it (not that I would know by experience :P ). I would love to see it after hours when no one is crowding around it there at the Louvre.
Posted by: Meeta at April 27, 2004 12:47 PMMeeta is SO right--if you're short, bring a footstool. Personally I was utterly disappointed by the Mona Lisa--so tiny!
And speaking of disappointing Da Vincis, I just finished reading the Da Vinci Code and was rather let down by that as well.
Posted by: Shelby at April 27, 2004 03:51 PMI've also read elsewhere today that the "Mona Lisa Smile" is slowly becoming a Mona Lisa frown. Getting old bites.
Posted by: Bonnie at April 27, 2004 07:26 PMit's surprisingly wee. when i saw it, i just wanted to say 'i saw the mona lisa'; i grew up looking at art like that, but never understood the popularity of the painting. i prefered the gargantuan painting's by david.
Posted by: mike at April 29, 2004 06:04 PMHere's some interesting trivia I read somewhere. The Mona Lisa is possibly a self portrait.
Posted by: wlfldy at April 30, 2004 08:20 AM
-d: How do you feel about being Governor of Indiana?
[Buzz it]
Global Warming, my ass!
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