The earliest replica of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa that has been discovered at Madrid's Prado Museum has revealed some new details. The underdrawing in the Prado painting is similar to that in the Louvre original, which means whoever painted it had seen Leonardo’s painting in its early stages. Most probably, it was created by one of Leonardo’s students.
The original painting, which currently hangs at the Louvre in Paris, is obscured by several layers of old, cracked varnish. However, cleaning and restoration is thought to be too risky because the painting is fragile.
The Prado painting is undoubtedly a very good copy & the Mona Lisa is undoubtedly over-rated. But it does have that enigmatic quality people have talked about for centuries, a quality that is not – on the strength of this detail – present in the Prado painting.
Source:
Mona Lisa feels alive again
Mona Lisa copy reveals new details
The original painting, which currently hangs at the Louvre in Paris, is obscured by several layers of old, cracked varnish. However, cleaning and restoration is thought to be too risky because the painting is fragile.
The Prado painting is undoubtedly a very good copy & the Mona Lisa is undoubtedly over-rated. But it does have that enigmatic quality people have talked about for centuries, a quality that is not – on the strength of this detail – present in the Prado painting.
Source:
Mona Lisa feels alive again
Mona Lisa copy reveals new details
