Da Vinci Tricked Everyone With A Secret Illusion

I handmade this book by digitally sketching my favorite Van Gogh pieces. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Have you ever looked at the Mona Lisa and wondered why she’s so famous? 8 million people go to the Louvre every year just to see the Mona Lisa. But once they arrive, they only spend about 15 seconds actually looking at her. Which begs the question: Is the Mona Lisa REALLY worth the hype?

In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci was approached by a wealthy silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo to paint a portrait of his 24-year old wife, Lisa. What started as a run-of-the-mill portrait turned into Leonardo da Vinci’s magnum opus. A masterpiece the artist would continue working on until his death. A painting he would never part with.

The story of how the Mona Lisa became the most famous painting in the world is a messy one. In 1911, she was stolen from the Louvre by a man named Vincenzo Peruggia who falsely believed France possessed the painting because Napoleon Bonaparte stole it from Italy. The world was fascinated by the theft and it became a national scandal seemingly overnight. This event undoubtedly accelerated the Mona Lisa’s rise to fame.

That being said, if there were an alternate reality where the Mona Lisa was never stolen, I believe she would still be famous. The Mona Lisa had many admirers before the heist and she was created by one of the greatest geniuses who ever lived. In addition. Leonardo da Vinci used many innovative techniques to create the Mona Lisa. I think there’s a good chance Leonardo knew this was his greatest masterpiece and that’s why he never let her go. Thanks for watching!

#arthistory #monalisa #leonardodavinci #classicart #fineart #art

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Smoke, fire, bubbles, goggles, hat and glasses effect from Vecteezy

[fintan]

This is why we should appreciate being able to see high resolution images so easily online. I could definitely see how in person it’s disappointing, standing in a crowd of people with only a few moments to look. Also the size, and how far you have to stand away.

[hummus_exual]

What I love about Leonardo is that, aside from being a genius, he was also a chaotic gremlin who loved to get his hands dirty, experiment with new and disgusting foods, and play the stupidest pranks on people. I’d want to be his friend

[panqueque]

I'm not surprised people spend so little time seeing it. The painting is so small, and you're only allowed to see it from a distance, even if you're at the front of the group, so you can't really see much. You can see it in more detail through a screen than in person. Not to mention, this painting is everywhere, so seeing it in person is probably a "oh, I guess that's it" moment.

[LadyLocket]

“She can be whatever you want her to be” This is the heart of the painting. I've had people tell me they love her because she's so delicate, demure and modest with a shy smile. I've also had people say they love her for her boldness, challenging eye contact, strength and mocking smirk. The only thing everyone seems to agree on is that she appears to be wanting to say something to the viewer but choosing not to, for reasons only she knows but will never tell.

[jashandeep]

Please never stop making these videos.

[rowynnecrowley]

Da Vinci was a fascinating character and I highly recommend anyone read up on his actual life. He used to pick out the fugliest people he could find, follow them around all day, then go home and draw their picture. He was a pacifist, but was often contracted to build machines for war because dude's gotta eat. He's defi high on my list of dead people to talk to.

[CCela]

She truly is incredible in person. She doesn't look like a painting but a real woman with full dimension, the light reflecting off her skin, the rounded features of her face changing with each direction that you see her from. Yes, you wait in a winding queue to see her. But if you just SEE her with your eyes and let your phone stay in your pocket, the experience of her in person glory is otherworldly. Totally worth it.

[mattwillis]

I think the reason why few people get he chance to really see Leo's famous portrait in all its beauty is due to the circumstance of its display, sadly it is placed behind a thick acrylic tamper proof glass, with minimal lighting as to limit the degradation from radiation. There really should be an accurate copy made that can then be displayed correctly without the glass and with bright daytime lighting. Amazing work Art Deco, this is the best review of the Mona Lisa ever. Cant wait for the next one!

[mimsydreams]

I think the disappointment comes from the fact that a lot of us grew up being shown this painting in media, and they always showed it being a large portrait. I'm 40 years old and I have never been to the Louvre. I only learned it wasn't a huge painting maybe 5-6 years ago.

[Smartie]

I saw the Mona Lisa and was also like 'why is this one so hyped?'
Now I understand. And I absolutely love it. Thank you so so much. I love this channel

[xarenanotmyrealname]

I think my favorite thing someone has said about the Mona Lisa is actually from a movie the character after he saw it for the first time ever said 'She laughs at me as if she knows something I do not' I think that encapsulates exactly what the Mona Lisa and her creator was going for.

[kimberlypatton]

As he aged, I am sure his genius matured. It became easier and more sure of himself and it culminated in perfection with which he could pretty much amaze himself. As an amateur watercolorist myself, all I can add is that there are those “golden days” which come forth from within that we are effortlessly able to produce art that rises above our own expectations… days when every stroke or line seems to feel like it comes from such a level of perfection that we ourselves are blown away. It is a feeling that comes from a place that is indescribable. Those days are golden. Those are where masterpieces come from, it is like a sudden urge, a propulsion you wake u with and it doesn’t abate until you grab your paints & brushes and release it. Just my own experience! I love this channel and your great insights and finny interjections! I hang on every word! And I can hardly wait until you put forth a new video!!!

[ChuckStaley]

I'm now 92 years old, but I clearly remember seeing the Mona Lisa painting in 1954. There were billions less people then, and I was all alone in the Louve at around closing time. The thing that struck me is that I could feel the ENERGY coming from the Mona Lisa painting. I must have stayed looking at it for half an hour or more, enjoying the good vibes that I was getting back from it. Eventually the one guard who was there alone politely told me it was closing time and I thanked him and left. If anyone is a Frankofile and wants to see Paris in 1954, stop by... 😎

[emilybarclay]

The Mona Lisa is a brilliantly painted portrait but it’s not particularly better than the average portrait by a master. It’s famous because of its historical value and story, not the painting itself

[DontFollowZim]

I think people just stare too hard at her for no reason because I don't see any of these "tricks". She always looks like she has a small smile on, no matter where I focus. The background crookedness doesn't appear to do anything for me, and she doesn't even seem to be looking at me... she's looking just over my right

[channelsixtyeight_]

How much of this admiration for the painting is because it is socially expected, rather than genuine.

[shellyirby]

Wow! Ive never seen the copy before! To see the Mona Lisa as it was originally is Truly incredible! Thank you for sharing this .

[costrio]

I consider that the Mona Lisa was "state of the art, " lieterally, in it's day.
We consider the first cell phone (brick sized) to be primitive today, but back then they had the "wow factor" of being a very expensive toy, I think.
Today's graphics will likely seem to be so primitive in a couple of decades, let alone hundreds of years from now, IMO.

[victoriawilliams]

I love the art reviews that this lady does ..they are fascinating, funny, whimsical, serious… Only a true art lover could look at a painting and see things with such clarity, depth and diversity.

[theGreta]

The reason viewers don't look at the painting for more than a few moments is because they _can't._ The gallery that Mona Lisa occupies is quite large and is so packed full of other viewers that it's difficult to even get to the painting, much less make a study of it. When/if a viewer manages to break through the crowd and stand before the painting, there is still a velvet rope keeping the viewers separated from the painting by a few feet (at least that's what was there when I visited in 2005). The painting is a bit small, so many itty bitty details are not visible.
This video gives us such a fantastic view of her, and the research was presented well. Thank you for sharing this with the world ❤️