Support NeoGAF

IceCold · Feb 23, 2012

The Prado presented the completed restoration of a work on Tuesday that it has concluded was a replica painted by one of Leonardo da Vinci's apprentices alongside the Renaissance master in his workshop.

"This is the oldest and most important copy of the famous painting known to date," Gabriele Finaldi, the Prado's director of research and conservation said.

For years the copy, which shows a younger and brighter version of the face that has captivated crowds for centuries, was believed to be one of dozens of replicas made long after Leonardo's death.

The painting has belonged to the Prado ever since the museum was founded in 1819 with the Spanish royalty's art collection, but with a background covered in black and a frame believed to be of oak, frequent in the work of northern European artists.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...ona-Lisa-Prado-museum-version-on-display.html

Very cool. Makes you think about how colourful the original used to be.

Close up:

RatskyWatsky · Feb 23, 2012

Whoa, that's so amazing!

killertofu · Feb 23, 2012

The copy looks better

Ashes · Feb 23, 2012

This is a restored painting. You'd have to be a brave museum director to clean up the original.

edit: There was controversy that Leonardo's other painting, the recently restored 'The Virgin and Child With St Anne's" was overcleaned and too bright.

freenudemacusers · Feb 23, 2012

Ashes1396 said:
This is a restored painting. You'd have to be a brave museum director to clean up the original.

worlds biggest balls, I would think.

Ashes · Feb 23, 2012

macuser1of5 said:
worlds biggest balls, I would think.

OpinionatedCyborg · Feb 23, 2012

student tried to make the chick hotter

IceCold · Feb 23, 2012

Ashes1396 said:
This is a restored painting. You'd have to be a brave museum director to clean up the original.

edit: There was controversy that Leonardo's other painting, the recently restored 'The Virgin and Child With St Anne's" was overcleaned and too bright.

You're right it was restored. They removed a layer of paint: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...inds-copy-of-Mona-Lisa-by-da-Vinci-pupil.html

But I think the painting right now is a good representation of what the Mona Lisa looked like color wise when it was painted.

Ashes · Feb 23, 2012

IceCold said:
You're right it was restored. They removed a layer of paint: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...inds-copy-of-Mona-Lisa-by-da-Vinci-pupil.html

But I think the painting right now is a good representation of what the Mona Lisa looked like color wise when it was painted.

Pretty much.

OpinionatedCyborg · Feb 23, 2012

xbhaskarx · Feb 23, 2012

Now in Technicolor

Night_Trekker · Feb 23, 2012

I read about this a week or two ago. It really is amazing.

IceCold · Feb 23, 2012

OpinionatedCyborg said:

Was that how it looked like originally? Dat cleansing.

Also notice the 666 at the bottom left

Mr.Squirrel · Feb 23, 2012

The Mona Lisa was never all that impressive to me.

Kisaya · Feb 23, 2012

Heard about this a while ago, freaking amazin. Wish I could go see this and the da Vinci one

DonMigs85 · Feb 23, 2012

These people probably all had funky BO, Lisa included

Qwomo · Feb 23, 2012

kisaya said:
Wish I could go see this and the da Vinci one

They're not more interesting in person.

twobear · Feb 23, 2012

Qwomo said:
They're not more interesting in person.

lies

Always-honest · Feb 23, 2012

killertofu said:
The copy looks better

In better condition, yes.

Buckethead · Feb 23, 2012

I like the color scheme better.

*shrugs*

Cosmonaut X · Feb 23, 2012

Did someone let the Diablo III art lead loose on the copy? ;-)

Leonsito · Feb 23, 2012

Cosmonaut X said:
Did someone let the Diablo III art lead loose on the copy? ;-)

Ha!

Diablo 2:

OpinionatedCyborg said:

Diablo 3:

Cosmonaut X · Feb 23, 2012

Leonsito said:
Ha!

Diablo 2:

Diablo 3:

Heh

You forgot the totally desaturated version mocked up by a disgruntled fan of "The Last Supper" to show da Vinci where he was going wrong with his colour choices...

Leonsito · Feb 23, 2012

Cosmonaut X said:
Heh

You forgot the totally desaturated version mocked up by a disgruntled fan of "The Last Supper" to show da Vinci where he was going wrong with his colour choices...

Hehe, deviantart fan version showing how Diablo 3 should be:

aerts1js · Feb 23, 2012

Qwomo said:
They're not more interesting in person.

I disagree.

rezuth · Feb 23, 2012

aerts1js said:
I disagree.

Yes, they are less interesting in person. Its funny how tiny that thing is.

David Incorporated Esq. · Feb 23, 2012

I never got this painting. Why is it such a big deal?

Chuckie · Feb 23, 2012

rezuth said:
Yes, they are less interesting in person. Its funny how tiny that thing is.

Yeah I saw it yeeeeaaaaars ago and remember thinking: Wtf... this is it?
Somehow that very often happens with paintings, the Night Watch but even the Sistine Chapel.

Messofanego · Feb 23, 2012

Dave Inc. said:
I never got this painting. Why is it such a big deal?

She's giving you the sex smile.

neoanarch · Feb 23, 2012

Dave Inc. said:
I never got this painting. Why is it such a big deal?

It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci one of the greatest men to have ever lived. Its also really good.

bodyboarder · Feb 23, 2012

Tence said:
Yeah I saw it yeeeeaaaaars ago and remember thinking: Wtf... this is it?

I had the same reaction.

leadbelly · Feb 23, 2012

Dave Inc. said:
I never got this painting. Why is it such a big deal?

The optical illusion of the smile.

way more · Feb 23, 2012

Dave Inc. said:
I never got this painting. Why is it such a big deal?

Maybe because all his other paintings depicted "a scene" and this one seems to be more intimate. Like his creation is actually looking at you. I really don't know. I'm just comparing it to his other portraits.

Edmond Dantès · Feb 23, 2012

Having seen both in person, I much prefer the Virgin on the Rocks.

JGS · Feb 23, 2012

The replica doesn't seem as mysterious, but it may be the better painting.

Urban legend?- Mona Lisa has many apparent errors that explains it's lack of finish. Or is it more likely that it looked very similar to this new find?

Support NeoGAF

Copy of Mona Lisa (made alongside the original) found in Madrid, Prado Museum

Member

Hunky Nostradamus

Member

Banned

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Member

Tom

Member

Member

Junior Member

sputum-flecked apoplexy

Banned

Banned

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Member

Banned

Member

Dantès the White

Banned

Similar threads