MONA LIZA

MONA LIZA - IS SHE REAL OR A FANTASY??

I can’t wait to see the original Mona Liza. She is still so much alive. She now resides and well-kept at Lourve Museum in Paris. What contributed to the museum’s throng of crowds is caused by the “Mona Liza” factor - her natural smile and her evergreen popularity as she grows in age.

The first time I saw ‘her’ was at the age of 16, when I visited a classmate’s house - a gigantic duplicate portrait of Mona Liza.

Ironically, when I saw the original piece of Mona Liza - it only measures 0.77-metre by 0.53-metre. I am surprised. I expected the painting to be as huge as the duplicate copy. Or at least ‘big’ enough for me to capture her using my D40 Nikon camera. The crowded room made it more difficult to capture a clear photograph of Her. Visitors drop by in ‘thousands’, rushing to see Her placed in room six. There was a divider to prevent visitors from reaching to near to Her, thus destroying the priceless photograph.

After viewing Her for 30 minutes, I as the million question “Why is she so famous? What is so special about this Italian painting drawn by Leonard-Da-Vinci (1503-1507) stands up above the rest of the other artists in the world?

Perhaps, it is Her charming ‘smile’ - she smiles at you at whichever angle you may view her. If viewed for a longer time, her expression seems to change. Her feature expression seems alive and moving. Her smile hits you straight and you cannot leave the museum without saying “alas I saw the real Mona Liza”.  She is actually looking so alive!

According to Destination Louvre Guide Book, the identity of the model remained unknown for years. She is thought to have been Liza Gherardini, daughter of a rich merchant who married to Francesco del Giocondon in 1495. She is seated on a balcony overlooking an eerie landscape, strangely rocks can be seen through a bluish mist.

When Leonardo began his portrait, the woman was in mourning for her baby daughter, this is why she wears a black veil over her head. To life her spirits, the artist brought musicians to bring a smile to her lips - a smile of sadness and great gentleness, which made the portrait famous over the years.

Leonardo spent many years painting this portrait, reworking on it until perfection. He took it with him, whenever he travels.

The management of museum has hinted that they may be keeping the painting away from public viewing, to protect the colour tone of the aged portrait that seems to be fading away with time. The painting will be kept away in a dark room, not exposed to lights and photography activity which may spoil it.

MONA LIZA HAS PROVOKED FASCINATION AND FANTASY FOR CENTURIES

LOUVRE MUSEUM