LEONARDO DA VINCI
Painter and Sculptor of Florence
(1452-1519)





User Comments:

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2002-03-09
    Comments: I think that the smile was telling other painters that he wasn't burnt out yet because he was pretty old when he did the mona Lisa

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2002-05-10
    Comments: absoulutely breathe taking it cant be done any better.
    being how he is living in such an old age he was years above himself
    this man, leonardo is a man of great nature.

    Name: Johannes
    Date: 2002-05-12
    Comments: I think Leonardo's tecnique is inimitable and this work is a master proof, but the Gioconda is a veeeery overvalued one!

    Name: maria
    Date: 2002-06-03
    Comments: i just adore this woman who is lighted
    from her insides! of course it`s the portrait of leo himself and this portrait is showing his attitude towards the "young artists" of those times. he smiles descendingly at them.
    sorry for my english, i`m actually a russian girl,
    marie

    Name: marta
    Date: 2002-06-14
    Comments: It is obviously one of the most famous pieces of Leo,but I wonder why it is so tremendous, do you by any chance?

    Name: bozka
    Date: 2002-09-11
    Comments: I do not see anything wonderful in this painting. It is just a woman, not a beauty.
    Nothing special

    Name: autumn
    Date: 2002-09-29
    Comments: Leo is a great artist he must took a lot of time
    but he got through it a did not give up. I made a A+ on my report and I just want to say tainks to him

    Name: America
    Date: 2002-10-03
    Comments: Leonardo was a person who discover the most beutiful imagen. It kind of painting tell us how ingenous was Leo. Today, he still are teaching us different ideas about how to create a new drawing.... just review some of his painting

    Name: Briggs
    Date: 2002-12-05
    Comments: I totally agree with the comments last but one,sometimes i feel that people say it's a great work of art' because the've been told it's a great work of art, personally i think that this painting is overated. Leonado did much better work than this.

    Name: D. Bright
    Date: 2002-11-02
    Comments: The mona Lisa is a self portrait of leonardo.
    It is proof that leonardo was indeed a cross dresser.

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2002-11-07
    Comments: I don't understand why everyone thinks that this painting is so great. It has very dull colors and it is only the portrait of an ordinary woman. i don't see anything great about it. Don't get me wrong, da Vinci was a tremendous artist, but this is not his best work.

    Name: punk-rock RULES!!!!!!!!!
    Date: 2003-01-21
    Comments: i agree that this painting is good,but it is way over-rated!i mean realy,come on!personally i think the last supper is his best piece,but thats just me!rock on,im out!

    Name: unknown
    Date: 2003-01-31
    Comments: her eyes look funny.also her hair and her nose are the same as da vincis.i think maybe she is a relative.

    Name: flynn jones
    Date: 2003-02-07
    Comments: i think the picture is a very good picture it looks very good it looks like it is a live faces and i think it should make a lenardo deventi museum for pantings and desigighns

    Name: Elina
    Date: 2003-03-05
    Comments: the beauty I see is the subtlety, the fact that Mona has that secretive elusive quality to her smile, (like the cat that swallowed the canary)she knows something we don't, the greatness is in the way Leo captured the essence of her expression. For all we know, he may have injected his own musings into the expression, rather than hers. Our concept of beauty is different in each era, yet she does not need to be a great beauty to convey that the art work in itself is beautiful. Leo was definitely a genius, and although this was not his greatest work, it certainly is one of the great works in art history.

    Name: bobby
    Date: 2003-03-04
    Comments: it is a lovely picture the best i have ever seen. to me it illustrates the lovelyness in each and every woman

    Name: kaloalani
    Date: 2003-02-22
    Comments: This painting is one that leo really worked hard on for someone who is very old. and because of his hard work and all the effort he had put in to it-the whole world loves and sees it as a masterpiece, i couldn't put in to words how much this painting and artist has made become a better artist myself.

    Name: travis
    Date: 2003-02-26
    Comments: very detailed and very esquisit work if he was still alive i would like to compliment him persnaly

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2003-03-11
    Comments: This is awork of art that only one person could have created and that was Da Vinci this is a portait of him as a womann for real it is also missing eyebrows!

    Name: chela
    Date: 2003-03-13
    Comments: this is just breathtaking
    its so beautiful. His consentration and mind and heart were really based upon this artwork
    its just startling of how life like it looks
    the eyes were painted in very good angle and proporton.same with her face and every thing
    its just so beatiful

    Name: unknown
    Date: 2003-03-21
    Comments: Leonardo da Vinci was a realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy realy good painter. I wish I was as good as he was.

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2003-04-02
    Comments: I think that Leo painted this picture because he wants to show you that it is all in the eye of the beholder.

    Name: Linda
    Date: 2003-04-13
    Comments: I just finished one of the many books on da Vinci in where the true form was his love of male and female balance and the right side of the portrait is suppose to be male and the right female, and that he was the model. Curious

    Name: Joshua
    Date: 2003-04-18
    Comments: I think that this painting is wounderful
    and it was amazing how he got every line every detale it is one of the best paintings ever created.

    Name: amy
    Date: 2003-04-24
    Comments: In this picture I believe the lady is tired and waiting patiently for Leanardo to finish painting and has a fake smile... Although very mysterious. I also believe that when you are painting all of your emotions go into to it and a piece of yourself goes into the work. So if any resemblence to Leo is b/c of this.(he may have been feeling the way she looked added w/ her facial attributes. And, are we sure she is of no blood relative to Leonardo himself?

    Name: amy
    Date: 2003-04-24
    Comments: In this picture I believe the lady is tired and waiting patiently for Leanardo to finish painting and has a fake smile... Although very mysterious. I also believe that when you are painting all of your emotions go into to it and a piece of yourself goes into the work. So if any resemblence to Leo is b/c of this.(he may have been feeling the way she looked added w/ her facial attributes. And, are we sure she is of no blood relative to Leonardo himself?

    Name: Me and only Me
    Date: 2003-04-29
    Comments: This painting is good,b ut it isnt the best. Leanardo has done many pieces of artwork that are much better. I still like the painting but i think that there are better ones out there. My personal favorite is "Starry night".

    Name: Coolxii
    Date: 2003-05-04
    Comments: has anyone ever noticed that in many of leonardo's paintings of people there is always some sorta line on their forehead? Does this add to the quilty of the work? or is it just some little thing that leonardo used as a signuture for his work? By the way this picture is good but i like some of his other painting's better.

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2003-05-04
    Comments: Giaconda, as she is also called, was the wife of Francesco di Giaconda, who had commissioned a portrait of his wife to be painted. It is possible that she was a relative of Leo's as there is a resemblance. As to her smile, it has been a topic of argument for the past 500 years, since Leo died, and none of you have said anything new. For those who think it's just a'ight and not that big of a deal, you're ignorant.

    Name: Joshua Keating
    Date: 2003-06-13
    Comments: I think it is a remarkable work of art. I may only be 12 but I apreciate his hard work and effort. I think the painting represents life for example the left side looks like hell the other heaven it represents our good side and our dark side. It is Mona Lisa's imagination.

    Name: Tori
    Date: 2003-07-13
    Comments: I do not find this picture to be one of da Vinci's greatest pieces of work. I think that THe Last Supper was da Vinci's best, and not only because of it's many suttle jokes. this painting was supposed to show the joining of male and female -- the uneven backround being a good example. I also think that da Vinci did this as a self portrait, because of his homosexuality.

    Name: Laura
    Date: 2003-07-14
    Comments: I think the Mona Lisa is like fine wine, not only does it get better with age, but it is the age of the viewer that recognizes and appreciates its fineness. It is amazing that the same expert hand that knows and renders raw flesh, muscle and bone with paper and pencil - can so delicately represent the most subtle of emotions with a brush. The sign of a truly gifted man a master.

    Name: Vanda
    Date: 2003-08-22
    Comments: It's just a wonderful work from a creative genius, but I have to say, it looks so like the few pictures we have of Leonardo, that it MUST be his mother! There is such a strong resemblance to the great man himself.

    Name: Julianne
    Date: 2003-09-15
    Comments: De Vinci's work is great, yes people do have their own opinions on wheather this piece is the best or not that's for them to decide. De Vinci knew what he was doing this piece open up many doors for non-well known painters such as myself.

    Name: macdaddy
    Date: 2003-09-18
    Comments: does anybody else agree with the notion that the reason for 'her' curious smile is that 'she' isnt actually of any sex, ie androgynous, with da vinci being an advocate of the sacred feminine, and that 'she' is smiling at us in a knowing way as only 'she' knows the truth behind the painting?!

    Name: Fjulll
    Date: 2003-09-23
    Comments: Personally, i think it isnt that good, i mean, its a women painted, whats so beutilfull about it? there are thousands of paintings like that one...

    Name: Erik
    Date: 2003-09-28
    Comments: Tilt it to the right, (right corner away from you) and it becomes a male, tilt it to the left and the image is female. Linda of 4/13/03 is correct.

    Name: Cindy
    Date: 2003-10-15
    Comments: I always liked the mono lisa. when i was in french class we were told to draw what we seen when she said france. I was the only one in my class the drew the mono lisa except I drew her in cartoon my teacher said I put a lot of heart into it but I didn't really I only drew what I saw in my head. I recomend everyone to have a copy of it I love all his paintings but this is my fav.

    Name: Tuesday
    Date: 2003-10-16
    Comments: I adore this painting. Although it doesn't look amazingly fabulous at first sight, it really is a masterpiece. Da Vinci has created the Mona Lisa's facial expression perfectly- her smile is secretive, as though she knows something we do not. Her eyes seem as though they're looking at you- but just a little bit past you, and you feel like turning around to see what she's staring at. She is positively lighted from the inside. :)

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2003-10-28
    Comments: the painting is such a masterpiece the way she looks at you make you think that she has her own mind and indivisualality-this is a brillant piece

    Name: KB
    Date: 2003-10-28
    Comments: I Love Leonardo's Paintings. I am doing a report on him and I think that my 2 favorite Paintings are the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper. It shows that he is truly Gifted in this Certin area. Those two Paintings are truly works of art. They are Magnificient and very very Beautiful.

    Name: A.W.G.
    Date: 2003-11-05
    Comments: For those that gave only negative comments..
    Could you have painted better than him? Whether it is not of your taste I feel we should learn to apprecitate and respect all these wonderful painters that left these beautiful treasures for us to admire...We will never have another da Vinci or Van Gogh or a Picasso in this century for our kids to see and admire..

    Name: Leanardo de Vinci
    Date: 2003-11-24
    Comments: I did this painting because she was a beautiful woman that had so much tuching she was perfect for a painting.I painted this picture in mountins were it was nice and peaceful.I asked her to pose for me and that is what I painted.I visioned her in my head then I was walking and saw her she was the one in my vision.

    Name: crys
    Date: 2003-12-05
    Comments: I feel this is a great painting. I can't say it is the best because I have not seen everyone's painting. I feel da Vinci was a great artist of his time and still is. I was told in history class that when you walk by it her smile changes like the eyes follow you. Love it!

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2003-12-18
    Comments: I love this painting. So many secrets are within this painting. My favorite part would have to be the background of it. Look behind her, notice that the horizon is not even. Leonardo, what a joker. :)
    Many people believe that the Mona Lisa is a creation of male and female balance and by looking at her it is easy to believe this. All I can say is that it is amazing.

    Name: haya
    Date: 2003-12-20
    Comments: there never seemed to be anything special about it but once i took a deeper look into her eyes and her smile what i realized was that that these eyes and smile are so alive and real and have a very obvious expression representing the inner thought of the woman yet you cannot tell what it really is. the day someone tells what is in the woman's mind the mytery will be solved and it is a mystery that just cannot be solved thats what makes this painting so special you think this is what she is saying and then you are like no there is more and you just go on and on but it needs an eye of a real careful observer and an intensly sensitive person to see the charm and beauty of the painting.

    Name: Wired
    Date: 2003-12-30
    Comments: The reason for it to be his greastest painting is because of how the painting holds secrets. And Da Vinci himself said its his masterpiece. He carried it everywhere with him in fact. And it is not easy to make such realistic people and background like Leonardo.

    Name: Hi!
    Date: 2004-01-02
    Comments: Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. But what I noticed most was how her eyes are faced away from you, but mysteriously don't look like they are.

    Name: Yanna
    Date: 2004-01-12
    Comments: I reallly love this painting I don't don't know why I just think that it makes me hold when I really want to give up

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2004-01-12
    Comments: This painting, I would have to say, is fantastic. Although, I do think that Leonardo da Vinci might have painted this portrait of himself, just in a female form. If that be the case, then he is very clever and sly!But I do think this painting is really awesome and Leonardo did a very good job on it.

    Name: Art lover
    Date: 2004-01-14
    Comments: leo is a truly great Artist and the mona lisa is one of my top 5 paintings I wish he was still alive and painting.

    Name: Julio Galician
    Date: 2004-01-14
    Comments: Her eyes and smile remind me of my boss while saying he was about to make me redundant.I'll never forget this smile.Monna Lisa has something... but what about 'The Venus of the mirror' by Velazquez. A neck that drives me crazy, I mean the Venus's neck.

    Name: HMT
    Date: 2004-01-15
    Comments: I think Leonardo de Vinci did put so much knowledge that is so great in this picture. How he make enigmatic smile! Of course he can because he is also scientist.

    Name: unkown
    Date: 2004-01-22
    Comments: I think this painting could have been about love or something. The eyes look warming and comforting which makes me suggest this. However, he has chosen a dull looking background ( dark colours black, greyetc. but the skin stands out.) i think leonardo da vinci is incredable because he is was a scientist, inventor and an artist. Just by looking at this painting you can see the time and effort he must have put in this to make it look outstanding.

    Name: brian
    Date: 2004-01-26
    Comments: da vinci, being a big fan of feminine priciples,
    made the left side(femine)look bigger by lowering
    the countryside on the left. Artist trick. the right is the male side. It is neither male nor female but both. Androgynous1 It symbolizes the
    the balance between the two.He believed that the
    human soul couldn't be enlightened unless it had both male and female elements.

    Name: Glenda
    Date: 2004-02-06
    Comments: What a masterpiece. The expression on her face and her stance is full of pride. You can tell he knew this work of art was going to be oe of the best he would ever paint.

    Name: Patty Melton
    Date: 2006-07-20
    Comments: I have seen the Mona Lisa painting in person, it is just neat to admire , in that it has lasted and been treasured for such a very long time by so many . Any of us should be so forturnate to know that we would have our own paintings looked upon for so many years into the future. Try not to forget that yes, she was just a common woman, but history tells us that she had lost a child and that he played music during the sitting for the painting, which is why she has a slight smile. Perhaps he saw something in her that he felt needed to be captured for later admiration by others.

    Name: adam
    Date: 2004-08-31
    Comments: this is a perfect painting.he used lots of mathmatics in all his paintings. the woman is in the shape of a triangle so that most of the focas is to her face(her head being the top point, and her elbose are the bottom 2 pionts). for the proportions of the eye's, nose, mouth, head , and body he use the golden rectangle.

    Name: DB
    Date: 2005-01-25
    Comments: It took me a very long time to understand why people thought so much of this painting. I never really liked it. But Leonardo was defineately capable of seeing beauty in things that others couldn't. No offense to anyone here, but some of you guys get way too caught up in the technical stuff like his stroke techniques and his color choice. You criticize but you forger to sit back and look at the painting. Art is a glimpse into someone's mind; another person's interpretation about somthing. Sometimes we get so caught up putting our two cents in, we forget to listen.

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2005-04-10
    Comments: His work is absolutely stunning. You can almost smell the artist's love and sweat that he experienced that summer of the painting of the perfect subject. Can't you smell her perfume. Her eyes look into your soul!

    Name: Dona
    Date: 2006-06-16
    Comments: The Mona Lisa is neither man nor woman. It is a trick, a little inside joke. AMON L'ISA is where the name Mona Lisa came from. Leonardo was a very feminine person. Just thought I would let you know how she came to be.

    Name: Unknown
    Date: 2006-11-15
    Comments: The reason her eyes don't leave you or so you think is b/c her body is sitting off a little to the side and her head is strait so it gives the affect that she watches you. NEAT. I have heard that he did paint this of himself but then why would he paint the left side closer. That is supposed to mean female. I am rivited by her smile, it makes you wonder why she is smiling. I think that is one of the reasons that makes this his best painting. Leonardo himself said that this was his best painting.


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