2011 Artist Blog - Entry #25

Mona Lisa, oil on poplar, 30.2 × 20.9 in

Self-Portrait, Red chalk on paper, 13.1 in × 8.5 in

Leonardo da Vinci... everybody knows this master and his works, with Mona Lisa being the most famous and easily recognizable. And if you don't know who Leonardo was, shame on you! On a more serious note, he is one of the most influential people of all time. Although Leonardo is considered one of the best painters of all time, he did more than just paint - he was a prominent sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, and anatomist to name just a few. Leonardo's talent is unprecedented to anybody who has ever lived with the only person who has ever come close to this genius being Michelangelo. Even though Leonardo worked in many mediums, I will solely be talking or at least trying to talk (briefly) about his paintings in this entry. There are thick books on him and his work, worth thousands and thousands of pages after all. Looking at Mona Lisa, one of Leonardo's most famous works, one can see the style he was going by. It was obviously done during Italian Renaissance which was all about "rebirth" of the Classical age (Greece and Rome).  The Classical style is clearly identifiable in the painting with the person portrayed having very soft forms, the Greek nose, curvy lips, full cheeks, and very prominent eyes with no indication of eyebrows above. The model for this piece was probably on a plump side a bit as there is almost no indication of bones beneath the skin. Her subtle smile is probably what is so unique about the painting, it is almost hard to notice the smile. The aged, dull, old look of the piece itself played a major role in making the painting so easy to remember. I believe it is the time that weathered it down, not the initial intention of Leonardo. The original was most likely in full color which is debatable to this day. The background, which is not being paid any special attention to by the majority, is quite a strange setting to be an actual place in contrast to the lady portrayed. A deeper analysis of the work can be Google'd, I am sure. Before this entry gets out of hand, I would like to conclude it by saying Leonardo has achieved such an artistic talent by years and years of practicing which is evident in the thousands of his works we have today. This great master's life and all the work he has created over decades will be forever imprinted in humanity's grandeur achievements of all time. One of my goals in life is to study Leonardo's masterpieces. (word count - 429)

La Scapigliata, Earth, amber and white lead on panel, 24.7 ×21 cm

Vitruvian Man, Pen, ink, watercolour and metalpoint on paper, 13.5 x 9.65 in