THE SMILE OF MONA LISA

Mona Lisa del Gioconda


The portrait full of mystery and secrets is painted on a 77×53 cm large poplar-wood. It is the most famous work of Leonardo da Vinci.

Originally the painting was larger than today, because two columns, one on the left the other one on the right side of Mona Lisa, have been cut. That is the reason why it is not easy to recognize that Mona Lisa is sitting on a terrace.

It is also mentionable that many details are not visible today, because they are partially damaged and some parts of Mona Lisa are painted over.

However the characteristic of the famous painting is still existing. The characteristic consists in the detailed background which disappears in the misty atmosphere (this is called “sfumato” technique), the perfect portrayed Mona Lisa and of course her hypnotically smile.

Leonardo da Vinci

(1452-1519)

Discover Leonardo da Vinci, a man well beyond his time. The following pages contain pictures, drawings and facts about the life of Leonardo.

Leonardo da Vinci was a renaissance painter, architect, engineer, mathematician and philosopher, a genius the world has never seen again so far.

Start your virtual journey in Anchiano, Italy where Leonardo da Vinci was born in April 1452.


"Leonardo da Vinci was like a man who awoke too early in the darkness, while the others were all still asleep."
- Sigmund Freud

INVENTION OF THE BICYCLE

LEONARDO da VINCI'S BICYCLE

The Real Facts:

• Between 1966 and 1969, the monks of the "Laboratorio di Restauro" of the Abbey of Grottaferrata, near Rome, were entrusted with the restoration of the Codex Atlanticus of Leonardo da Vinci. A binding contract was drawn up between the then Prefect of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana of Milan, Monsignor Paredi, and the Director of the "Laboratorio di Restauro" of Grottaferrata, Padre Daniele Barbiellini, which contract is still preserved in the archives. The fundamental clause of this contract was that absolutely no person was to be admitted to see the folios of the Codex during the years of the restoration, and this strict clause was always rigorously observed.

• During the process of the restoration, the monks separated two sheets that a sixteenth-century conservator, Pompeo Leoni, had folded in half and glued together when he joined about 1300 of Leonardo's sheets and fragments to form the single codex now referred to as the Codex Atlanticus. The separation of these two sheets revealed some scurrilous scribbles and the rough sketch of a vehicle resembling a bicycle. It is certain that these drawings were not made by Leonardo, but probably by pupils of Leonardo's "bottega," the bicycle sketch apparently a bad reproduction made in brown crayon of an original by Leonardo himself, since lost.

• Professor Marinoni, who was entrusted by the Commissione Vinciana of Rome with the transcription of the Codex Atlanticus for the National Edition of Leonardo's Manuscripts and Drawings, received from the publisher, the Casa Editrice Giunti of Florence, a photograph of each sheet of the restored Codex, taken after the codex had been returned to the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, and it was on these photographs that he based his diplomatic and critical transcriptions. The Codex has always been guarded in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana with exceptional safety measures. The scurrilous scribbles and the sketch of the "bicycle," which had remained invisible for about four hundred years, were in the photograph numbered folio 133v.

• Professor Marinoni dated the sketch circa 1493, the same date as that written by Leonardo on the front page of Codex Madrid I. On folio 10r of that codex there is a sketch drawn by Leonardo showing a chain with cubic teeth, the same cubic teeth that can be seen in the rough sketch of folio 133v of the Codex Atlanticus. Marinoni's opinion was shared by other scholars (e.g., Professor Baud of the University of Strasbourg and Professor James McGurn of York), and although many others remained skeptical, "the vigorous skepticism of the critics has failed to undermine any of the evidence for authenticity set out by Prof. Augusto Marinoni, the leading Da Vinci scholar."

FAMILY TREE

The Family Tree of Leonardo da Vinci

Ser Guido di Ser Michele da Vinci was the great great-grandfather of Leonardo da Vinci. He lived in Vinci and first mention of him is dated by 1339. He was a florentine notary. To take up the profession of notary was a family-tradition. His father and also his sons, Giovanni and Piero ,took up this profession. Piero was the great-grandfather of Leonardo da Vinci.

Antonio and Lucia were the grandparents of Leonardo. Lucia was born in 1393. She was the daughter of Piero Zosi da Bacchereto a florentine notary. Antonio did not continue the family-tradition to take up the profession of notary. He was a farmer and land-owner. Antonio and Lucia lived with their two sons Piero and Francesco (born in 1435) and their daughter Violante in Vinci. Leonardo and his father lived in the same house until they moved to Florence. Francesco and Lucia spent their whole life in this house in Vinci.

Leonardo da Vinci was the first child of Ser Piero who was born in 1427. He continued the tradition of his family to work as a notary. Ser Piero didn’t marry the mother of Leonardo. He married his first wife Albiera in the same year as Leonardo was born. He died on 9th of July 1504.

Catarina was the mother of Leonardo. She did not marry Ser Piero the father of Leonardo. It is supposed that Leonardo spent his first years of childhood with Catarina in Anchiano. Catarina married some years after the birth of Leonardo a man from Vinci called Acattabriga di Piero di Luca.

Albiera di Giovanni Amadai was born in 1436 and died between 1460 and 1465. At the age of sixteen she married Ser Piero. This happened in the same year as Leonardo was born. Ser Piero and Albiera didn’t get any child.

Francesca di Ser Giovanni Lanfredini was the second very young wife of Ser Piero. Unfortunately she died early.

Margherita daughter of Francesco di Gacopo di Guglielmo was the third very young wife of Ser Piero. She was born in 1458. Ser Piero and Margherita got two sons. Antonio was born in 1476 and he was the first legitimated son of Ser Piero. The second son was Giulian who was born in 1479. Margherita died soon after 1480.

Lucrezia di Guglielmo Cortigiani was the fourth wife of Ser Piero. This marriage was blessed with a large offspring. Ser Piero and Lucrezia had seven sons and two daughters.

THE SMILE OF MONA LISA

Mona Lisa del Gioconda

The portrait full of mystery and secrets is painted on a 77×53 cm large poplar-wood. It is the most famous work of Leonardo da Vinci.

Originally the painting was larger than today, because two columns, one on the left the other one on the right side of Mona Lisa, have been cut. That is the reason why it is not easy to recognize that Mona Lisa is sitting on a terrace.

It is also mentionable that many details are not visible today, because they are partially damaged and some parts of Mona Lisa are painted over.

However the characteristic of the famous painting is still existing. The characteristic consists in the detailed background which disappears in the misty atmosphere (this is called “sfumato” technique), the perfect portrayed Mona Lisa and of course her hypnotically smile.

DEATH IN AMBOISE

Tomb of Leonardo da Vinci at Saint Hubert Chapel

This picture shows the Leonardo plaque in Amboise.

Leonardo died on 2 May 1519 in Amboise. At this time Leonardo da Vinci was 67 year old. His state of health was not the best, because Leonardo had a paralysis on the right side of his body since 1517 and Vasari told about an illness some weeks before Leonardo died.

On 23 April 1519 Leonardo wrote his last will.

Vasari told the legend that King Francis I. immediatly came to Amboise when he heard about the near end of Leonardo da Vincis life. This painting from Cesare Mussini (1929), which you can admire in the Galleria dell´Academia in Florence, shows this last meeting. It is only a legend, because King Francis I. was on 1 May 1519 in St. Germain en Laye and so he couldn't be in Amboise one day later.

This picture shows the Chapel of St. Hubert which is situated inside the area of the king castle in Amboise. In the chapel is the last resting place of Leonardo da Vinci.

Originally Leonardo was buried in the heart of the king castle in the cloister of San Fiorentino. After destruction of the church and parts of the castle the mortal remains of Leonardo da Vinci were transferred to the Chapel of St. Hubert.

INVITATION TO FRANCE

Le Clos Luce in Amboise

King Francis I. invited Leonardo da Vinci to spend the last span of life in Amboise at the court of France. In autumn 1516 Leonardo arrived in Amboise. In his baggage was the famous painting Mona Lisa.

Leonardo lived in Amboise in the small castle Cloux which is now called Le Clos Luce. This castle is situated between the town and the king castle.
In France Leonardo didn't paint, but he made hydrological studies.

FIRST PERIOD IN FLORENCE

The Annunciation

Leonardo da Vinci created the left/left painting 1478. Remarkable is the beauty of the virgin and the attentive facial expression of the child, who looks at the flower.

This madonna painting is one of two, which Leonardo painted at this time. The second one, a madonna with a cat, doesn't exist, but a sketch from Leonardo exists in the British Museum

Around 1480/1481 Leonardo created the small Annunciation, which is now in the Louvre. It's a lovely small painting with a deep and misty landscape and also the flowers in the foreground are a typically work of Leonardo da Vinci. Beside this Annunciation there exists another one, which is now in Florence. The annunciation from Florence is usually ascribed to Leonardo, but the most scientifically facts indicate, that it is from Lorenzo di Credi, who worked with Leonardo in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio.

THE IMPEACHMENT

The Palazzo Vecchio at sunset

A remarkable event happened on April 8, 1476. At this time it was usual to put anonymous accusations in a wooden box (called tamburo), which was put up in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.

On April 8th, Leonardo and four others were accused. The anonymous person accused Leonardo to have a homosexual affair with Jacopo Saltarelli, who was a model. The procedure ended for all participants with an acquittal of the charge.
This story is an indication of the supposed homosexuality of Leonardo da Vinci.

FIRST ARTWORKS

The Baptism of Christ

The first known and dated work of Leonardo da Vinci is a pen and ink drawing of a valley shaped by the river Arno. The drawing dated 5th of August 1473 reflects the ingenious mind of Leonardo. The Arno valley is drawn with aerial perspective by allowing the color of the paper to dominate and less details as the depth increases. This effect will be called later "the perspective of disappearance".

1472-1475 Leonardo da Vinci assisted his master Andrea del Verrocchio on the painting "Baptism of Christ", which was commissioned by the monks of San Salvi near Florence. The angel kneeling at the far left, parts of the landscape and the body of Christ are considered to be from Leonardo.

Vasari reported about this painting: Verrocchio had already done the main work: "Leonardo painted an angel who was holding some garments; and despite his youth, he executed it in such a manner that his angel was far better than the figures painted by Verrocchio. This was the reason why Andrea would never touch colours again, he was so ashamed that a boy understood their use better than he did." It's also true that this was Verrocchio's last known painting.

An x-ray of this painting showed that the original sketching Verrocchio did for Leonardo's angel was entirely different from the final result. Leonardo was freeing himself of his master's coaching to follow his own path. It's interesting to compare the two angels, Leonardo's playing close attention to the action, the figure looking quite natural and part of the activities and scene. In contrast, Verrocchio's angel stares off into space with no interest in what is going on and he looks a little bit bored.

Of the four figures in the painting the angle painted by Leonardo is significantly better than the others, the rest being by Verrocchio (John the Baptist), Botticelli, Credi and various other students.

APPRENTICESHIP FLORENCE

Andrea del Verrocchio

Leonardo started an apprenticeship in the workshop of Andrea del Verrocchio 1466. Verrocchio was at this time the most gifted and manifoldest artist in Florence. He was a sculptor, painter, goldsmith, bronze caster and more. There is no doubt that Verrocchio had much influence on Leonardo. Verrocchio was fascinated by the drawings of the young Leonardo and so he gave him a place in his workshop. Leonardo worked at the workshop of Verrocchio with some other famous artists like Botticelli, Perugino and Lorenzo di Credi.

Leonardo started his apprenticeship with the mixing of colors and then he painted simple parts of paintings. There are no works of Leonardo known between 1466 and 1472, but Leonardo taught himself to paint in oils at this time. This art practice was developed by dutch artists.

In June 1472 Leonardo was listed in the red book of painters from Florence (Campagnia de Pittori). With the membership in the painters guild of Florence ended the apprenticeship of Leonardo. Leonardo didn't leave the workshop of Verrocchio at the end of his apprenticeship.

BIRTHPLACE IN ANCHIANO

Birthplace in Anchiano, Italy

It was the period of the renaissance when Leonardo da Vinci was born on the 15th of April 1452. Leonardo was born probably in this farmhouse in Anchiano, which is 3 km away from Vinci. The family of Leonardo lived in this area since the 13th century.

The father of Leonardo da Vinci, Ser Piero, was 25 years old and a public notary when Leonardo was born in 1452. In the same year Ser Piero married his first wife Albiera. He didn't marry the mother of Leonardo, because she was the daughter of a farmer and not from a wealthy family. The mother of Leonardo was called Catarina. Her first name is all what we know today.

This is the Baptismal chapel and font in Vinci where Leonardo was christened. Leonardo was christened from the parson Piero da Bartolomeo to the name Lionardo and not Leonardo. The chapel is inside the lovely church of Vinci. The church and beside the castle of Vinci are forming the skyline of this lovely town.

Leonardo lived probably in Anchiano for five years until he settled to Vinci.