By Catherine Garney

by Catheringarney Garney
art reproductions


The Mona Lisa has fascinated man since Leonardo Da Vinci painted it in the days of the renaissance. Famous for her smile, or lack of the same, its timeless qualities has made a favorite of the ages. As it has also, especially through the novels of Dan Brown, regained temporary appeal, it is set for yet another century at the center of the world art heritage.

Painted between 1503 and 1506 in Florence, the painting is named after Lisa del Giocondo of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany. She was and the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo, and the painting was ordered to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea. While there have been many theories as to who is actually depicted in the painting, ranging from Isabella of Aragon to Da Vinci Himself, the traditional view that the sitter is actually Lisa herself seems to be getting traction these days. Still, it does add to the certain mystic allure of the painting that it is not entirely known who the actual subject is. It lends a second layer of mystery which combines with her smile to lead us by the nose as we contemplate what this is all about.

by Arlene Wright-Correll
http://www.learn-america.com


How often I have heard the phrase "watercolors are so unforgiving" meaning that unlike oils or acrylics one cannot go over them when one makes a mistake.

That is really not true since there are many techniques to "fix" goofs or errors. However, watercolors are so inexpensive to do that unless one has a lot of hours into a painting it is often easier to just chuck it and start all over again.