Is the meaning and interpretation of the Monalisa all wrong and misconstrued by historians?

Discussion

In the first assignment, I focused on late sixteenth-century developments in renaissance art, as seen in the works of Leonardo and Bramante. In particular, I focused on the Renaissance style of art and how it has been extensively used in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century[1]. While the Monalisa has been dubbed as one of the most prolific paintings of its time, there is a different perspective of the painting, which may not be known to many. Could it be that Leonardo was just painting the woman to make a complex looking painting that would dazzle minds?

During the renaissance period, artists were more driven towards individualistic perspectives as opposed to a general overview of man. Artists were dropping out on medieval values in advertising and were more inclined towards various attributes such as secularization of life[2]. Leonardo similarly was inspired by the renaissance drive to desire to achieve more with his work. Over time, there have been various versions of the Monalisa that have authenticated as his style of brushing. There have also been rumors that most of his work remained unfinished, and the Monalisa was altered on the edges when framing[3].

When focusing on all of his works and, in particular, the Monalisa, there is evidence that the painting was designed to have a different meaning other than that which the researcher has given it[4];[5]. I am curious to understand what Leonardo meant with the painting. Was he just painting for the fun of it? Was he out to design a complex artwork that would leave interest parties deciphering it decades later? What was his true desire and meaning when painting the Monalisa? I wish to study the true inspiration and meaning of Leonardo’s Monalisa?

Preliminary Bibliography

Adams, Schneider, Laurie. 2018. Italian Renaissance Art. Vol. II. New York: Routledge.

Britannica. 2020. Renaissance Art. January 31. Accessed February 29, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/art/Renaissance-art.

Carbon, C, and V Hesslinger. 2013. “Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa Entering the Next Dimension.” Perception 42 (8): 887-893.

Allen, J., 2008. Is Mona Lisa Still Smiling?. Most College Students Are Women. Virginia: Stylus Publishing.

Capps, D., 2004. “Leonardo’s Mona Lisa: Iconic center of male melancholic religion.” Pastoral Psychology 53 (2): 107-137.

[1] Adams, Schneider, Laurie. 2018. Italian Renaissance Art. Vol. II. New York: Routledge.

[2] Britannica. 2020. Renaissance Art. January 31. Accessed February 29, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/art/Renaissance-art.

[3] Carbon, C, and V Hesslinger. 2013. “Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa Entering the Next Dimension.” Perception 42 (8): 887-893.

[4] Allen, J. 2008. Is Mona Lisa still Smiling?. Most College Students Are Women. Virginia: Stylus Publishing.

[5] Capps, D. 2004. “Leonardo’s Mona Lisa: Iconic center of male melancholic religion.” Pastoral Psychology 53 (2): 107-137.