Youve unquestionably seen her enigmatic smile, however have you ever wondered about the tricks concealed within the layers of the Mona Lisa? Its the most popular painting in the world, were still finding out new things about the work of art, more than five centuries after Leonardo da Vinci made its very first brush strokes.
A brand-new study has just recently revealed another layer to the story of the Mona Lisa, discovering that Leonardo explored a fair bit with his early drafts.
AI-generated image of Mona Lisa under an X-ray.
The science behind the smile
” In this case, its intriguing to see that indeed there is a particular technique for the ground layer of Mona Lisa,” Gonzalez informed the AP.
When you look straight at Mona Lisas eyes, the smile appears to fade. Look from a various angle, and it brightens, practically teasingly.
When you look straight at Mona Lisas eyes, the smile appears to fade. It seems like Leonardo wasnt exactly sure how it would all turn out when he embarked on this now renowned task. Plumbonacrite acts as a chemical fingerprint for Leonardos unique paint dish. Picture the master at work, liquifying this dynamic orange powder in oils, developing a mix that flowed “more like honey,” as described by Victor Gonzalez, the studys lead author and a chemist at Frances leading research study body, the CNRS.
So, why is this compound so special? Plumbonacrite acts as a chemical finger print for Leonardos unique paint dish. It recommends that the master artist likely utilized lead oxide powder to enhance the texture and drying procedure of his paint. Imagine the master at work, dissolving this vibrant orange powder in oils, creating a mixture that flowed “more like honey,” as described by Victor Gonzalez, the research studys lead author and a chemist at Frances leading research study body, the CNRS.
This revelation isnt just about the Mona Lisa.
As we peel back layers and shine a light on the concealed strategies of the Mona Lisa, were reminded that this iconic painting, thought to be a portrayal of Lisa Gherardini, still holds numerous tricks. As Gonzalez aptly put it, “We are hardly scratching the surface area.”
This intricate detail speaks volumes about Leonardos perpetual drive to innovate and experiment. This discovery isnt just about the Mona Lisa. This painting method might have been bied far through generations, with even Rembrandt possibly embracing a comparable technique in the 17th century. “It informs us likewise that those recipes were passed on for centuries,” Gonzalez kept in mind. “It was a great recipe.”
Nevertheless, it seems like Leonardo wasnt precisely sure how it would all turn out when he started this now iconic task. Using cutting-edge X-ray innovation, scientists in France examined the atomic structure of simply a tiny speck of the masterpiece, so small its almost unnoticeable to the naked eye. What they found was the presence of a rare substance called plumbonacrite. This discovery not only confirms art historians theories however likewise showcases Leonardos penchant for experimentation.
Mona Lisas smile has actually mesmerized generations. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
