The mona lisa foundation stated and explained today in a press conference its firm belief that the isleworth mona lisa is the first, unfinished, version of leonardos monna lisa that he started in 1503. John eyre, a british art historian wrote in his books of 1915 and 1924, copies of which are held in hounslow library. Written by oscar holland, cnn with her straight dark hair and beguiling smile, the socalled isleworth mona lisa bears an uncanny resemblance to her namesake in the louvre. Media in category the isleworth mona lisa the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total. The isleworth mona lisa is presented by the mona lisa foundation. When meyer herself died in 2008, the isleworth mona lisa was acquired by the international consortium that currently owns it and the mona lisa foundation was established that same year. John asmus uc san diego look at the isleworth mona lisa also known as the earlier version in this bbc television special on the. In a monograph published shortly thereafter, blakers stepfather, john r. Leonardo da vinci may have painted another mona lisa. Blaker took it to his home in a london suburb, where it was dubbed the isleworth mona lisa.
Could there be an earlier version of the mona lisa. The mona lisa foundation, which has been working with the anonymous owners of the isleworth mona lisa, says that after 35 years of research, experts believe it predates the famed 16th. Both mona lisas are allegedly painted by da vinci, but the one hanging in the louvre is thought to have been painted at a later date than the isleworth mona lisa. Pulitzer sold 25% of the painting to the portuguese porcelain manufacturer leland gilbert, with the remaining 75% going to. A version of the mona lisa known as the isleworth mona lisa was first bought by an english nobleman in 1778 and was rediscovered in 19 by hugh blaker, an art connoisseur. Blaker snapped up the portrait, which mimicked the louvre mona lisa. The book demonstrates that leonardo da vinci painted two portraits of mona lisa and peels away the layers of confusion about the histories that separate the two paintings, set against the panoramic backdrop. It is arguable that the beauty of the louvre mona lisa has been sacrificed to technique. Family claims quarter share of disputed isleworth mona lisa. Group attests to earlier mona lisa portland press herald.
It dives deep into the world of mathematics, numbers, symbolism, and scripture. The isleworth mona lisa has been known publicly for generations if forgotten by the broader public and the book excerpts numerous news headlines about the painting and the possibility of. The isleworth mona lisa was found in a house in somerset and brought to london. Season episode 5 4m s two years before the death of leonardo da vinci, the aging artist was visited by cardinal luigi daragona to survey his works. The isleworth mona lisa is wider than the mona lisa in the louvre, having columns on either side. Blaker believed that the isleworth mona lisa was a far more beautiful work than the louvre painting, and many art experts have agreed with him.
The foundation, in a 320page book on the work published in 2012, said mr. This study is, in a way, a mirror image of leonardo himself. Is she a later version of lisa del giocondo, painted in. Henry pulitzer, acquires the painting, which becomes the subject of his 1966 book, where is the mona lisa. Pulitzer notes in the books introduction that he made a number of sacrifices in order to acquire the. While it is not a must that readers read the other two books, it does help to tie the story line in mona lisa together. The isleworth mona lisa left and the mona lisa right, with alfonso rubinos geometric attributions ever since dan browns 2003 blockbusting mystery novel, the da vinci code, hit paydirt, heretical claims surrounding the works of the works of the renaissance. The 16thcentury artist and art critic giorgio vasari, an expert in all things leonardo, describes the mona lisa as an unfinished painting in the famous book the lives of. Leonardo da vinci painted earlier version of mona lisa. Skepticism is in order for the isleworth mona lisa the. The earlier version of the mona lisa as the portrait of.
At the time of my original investigation of isleworth mona lisa i found a. The painting was subsequently bought by the american collector henry f pulitzer, who in turn published a selfserving book arguing that the isleworth picture was in fact leonardos only real. The isleworth mona lisa has been known publicly for generations if forgotten by the broader public and the book excerpts numerous news headlines about the painting and the possibility of its da. It is a painting of the same subject as leonardo da vincis mona lisa. No one could say this of the far more fresh and lively isleworth mona lisa. Stanley feldman, artist, historian, researcher and author of the book mona lisa leonardos earlier version gestures during the unveil event of the isleworth.
Leonardos earlier version, during the unveil event of the isleworth mona lisa on. New tests on a painting billed as the original version of the mona lisa, leonardo da vincis 15th century portrait, have produced fresh proof that it is the work of the italian master, a swiss. But did you know that the mona lisa in the louvre may well be a copy of the original mona lisa. It is thought to be an earlier version of leonardos more familiar work in the louvre.
Pulitzer, who first introduced the painting to the public in his 1966 book. Mona lisa replicas and reinterpretations wikipedia. Known as the isleworth mona lisa, the painting shows a woman who appears to be approximately 10 years younger than the louvre mona lisa. It used to be known as the isleworth mona lisa, but its current owners. The mona lisa wasnt just a portrait of a individual woman lisa it was a style pose composition position that became a mona pose or technically a portrait style like the example above, leonardo would use the composition as a type of template to paint multiple people and to teach others. The mystery of the isleworth mona lisa barnebys magazine. So the inevitable conclusion is that leonardo painted two portraits of mona lisa. The earlier mona lisa was discovered in 19 by an art collector while visiting a british aristocrat in somerset. The foundation stresses its belief not only by publishing a first volume, but by. Leonardos earlier version, during the unveil event of the isleworth mona lisa on september 27, 2012 in geneva. Subsequently, the isleworth mona lisa was bought by the art historian henry f. Enamoured with the painting, which he believed to be more important than the mona lisa, pulitzer produced a 1967 book on his isleworth version, titled. Mona lisa left leonardos preferred medium was wood, not canvas which the isleworth version is painted on.
The painting was presented to the media in 2012 by the mona lisa foundation. A purported version of the worlds most iconic painting, leonardo da vincis mona lisa, has surfaced in singapore, and appears to show a younger mona lisa in front of a different background. The isleworth mona lisa has mainly dwelt in a swiss vault since 1975. Stanley feldman, principal author of the book mona lisa. The isleworth mona lisa is an oiloncanvas painting of the same subject as leonardo da.
The mona lisa is a victim of its success, the most egregious case of the winner takes all phenomenon in the annals of art history. The isleworth mona lisa is an important work of art deserving respect and strong consideration as well as a scientific, historic and artistic debate among specialists rather than a. Experts claim to have confirmed that an earlier version, unearthed last year, is also the work of leonardo da vinci. Taking it back to his studio in isleworth, south west london, for restoration, it was the dubbed the isleworth mona lisa for its close resemblance to da. Experts say isleworth mona lisa is by da vinci mylondon. The book demonstrates that leonardo da vinci painted two portraits of mona lisa and peels away the layers of confusion about the histories that separate the two paintings, set against the panoramic backdrop of renaissance italy. It became known as the isleworth mona lisa, named after blakers studio in west london. This book is about the earlier version of mona lisa that leonardo da vinci painted. The book makes a strong case for seeing the isleworth mona lisa as da vincis earlier version of mona lisa. Pulitzer sold 25% of the painting to the portuguese porcelain manufacturer leland gilbert, with the remaining 75% going to pulitzers partner elizabeth meyer. Search for the mona lisaand his new book the da vinci legacyapollo, 2019.
It was then the property of henry pulitzer, a british art historian, who published a book about it in 1966 called where is the mona lisa. Unveiling the mystery of leonardos two mona lisas artdependence. A version of the mona lisa known as the isleworth mona lisa and also known as the earlier mona lisa was first bought by an english nobleman in 1778 and was rediscovered in 19 by hugh blaker, an art connoisseur. Kept hidden for decades in a swiss vault, the socalled isleworth mona lisa is at the center of a mysterious ownership dispute. It was then the property of henry pulitzer, a british art historian, who published a book about it in 1966 called where is the. The foundation say forensic testing backs early suggestions. Last supperand the mona lisa, among others, were his effort to fulfill the duty of maintaining and transferring the knowledge to following generations. Pulitzer himself owned the painting in question, a conflict of interest is present.
Family claims quarter share of disputed isleworth mona lisa the. Not long afterwards, his stepfather john r eyre published a monograph proposing that leonardo had worked on two versions of his portrait of mona lisa, and that the isleworth picture was the first one. That the isleworth mona lisa will be acknowledged someday as giocondos version i have not the shadow of a doubt. The mona lisa mystery what is the isleworth mona lisa.
The louvre painting has the projecting bases of columns on either side. With the 500yearold mystery of the mona lisa and isleworth mona lisa at stake, these important revelations could bring us one step closer to being able to say, case closed. The history and events surrounding da vinci, his genius, and his surviving work is, and always will be a. It is possible that the portrait in the louvre derives from the isleworth mona lisa with leonardo adding a more complex background and leaving out the side. The isleworth mona lisa is an oiloncanvas painting of the same subject as leonardo da vincis mona lisa. The mona lisa foundation presents the comprehensive history, science and expertise, and reveals, after 500 years in relative obscurity, the stunning earlier version of the mona lisa by leonardo da vinci. Isleworth mona lisa younger than the louvres treasured. The socalled isleworth mona lisa, which shows a significantly younger subject. Since hundreds of copies of the mona lisa circulate throughout the world, could the isleworth mona lisa be an ingenious forgery or an unfinished da vinci.
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