Months ago the news broke that in the Prado a copy was found of the Mona Lisa. Assumed is now that two apprentices of Da Vinci made this painting. For a long time nobody thought much of it but that has changed. After a clean-up, art critics were stunned by the resemblance to the real Mona Lisa. The dress, the face of the copied Mona Lisa and the landscape had much more quality than previously assumed. Because of the cleaning, the copied Mona Lisa looks fresh and much younger than her older twin-sister.
I’d cut out this news-article and pinned it on my inspiration board. From time to time I had a look at the two paintings and I started to like the copy a lot. The younger Mona Lisa clearly makes me happy with her freshness and brightness. But despite that the original Mona Lisa keeps on smiling more lovely due to her darker cheeks that deepen her smile. Beside that, I noticed that I still liked Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa best because she is better composed and has a smaller chest, whereas the copied Mona Lisa’s body and head seem to belong to two different models.
I look forward to the day the Mona Lisa gets a clean, because its background is rather obscured by dark vanish. I suspect Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa will stay the sweetheart of so many while our feelings for her younger sister will grow.
Paula
Fascinating!
I had to laugh the first time I saw the younger sister of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. It was so stunning and intriguing. Only after much admiration, I started to have an eye for the differences.
Dave, which painting would you prefer as a mantelpiece?
I’ll have to give that some thought!
That’s really interesting, and the first I’ve heard about this. Like the colors on the cleaned up version, but prefer the facial features of Mona #1.
It seems that most people feel this way. How interesting.
Thank you for your comment, Arjuna.
I like better the older Mona, she is warmer and looks more mature person…..
By now I think I should contact Musée du Louvre and ask not to clean the Mona Lisa.
Well Paula, it depends-if this cleaning can make Mona look younger, you should ask them to clean not only Mona Lisa but me, too, please
Tamara you are right: a lot of women look much younger without varnish…..I mean make-up.
But you and I shouldn’t get younger…we are okay as we are.
No doubt
I like the original better. Something about the smile and eyes.
I agree with you, Russel.
I still prefer the original even though the copy is also quite nice. There is enough difference in the shapes of the faces, eyes and smile to make the original look warmer, and more inviting and approachable to me.
Most people do, Fergie. I think the restorers who are about to clean the original Mona Lisa should take care not to remove too much of the warmth that has a lot to do with the discoloured varnish. Having said that, the Mona Lisa will survive it all, and she will keep smiling sweetly and mysteriously.