" If it wasn't enough, he also had a divine singing voice to accompany his "charming conversation that won all hearts (MacDonald).".
Leonardo was an artist during the Renaissance period. During this period, European artists began to study nature more closely and produced more life-like pictures known as realism pictures. Leonardo's quote best describes this period of artwork, "The most praiseworthy form of painting is the one that most resembles what it imitates (Leonardo).".
The Mona Lisa is considered the most remarkable painting of all time. By painting the picture, Leonardo came up with new ways to paint and incorporated the use of mathematics in his portrait. Until recently I could not understand why this particular painting is so much better then other similar paintings. Then I discovered it is a combination of the painting itself, the way it looks, and the way it was constructed, the design and the perspective are truly extraordinary. In this picture, all the lines end in a single vanishing point behind her head. Also, Leonardo painted her in a relaxed, natural, three-quarter pose. This technique is known as triangular composition and was the beginning of the use of geometric formations in artwork. Another use of Leonardo's intellect can be seen in the shape of her hands and face. The direction and posture are so flawless that it is quite evident Leonardo had rigorously studied in the anatomy of the human body. While living at a hospital, Leonardo had dissected over 30 cadavers to get a better understanding of the shape of the human body. .
Sadly the entire beauty of the Mona Lisa cannot be seen. Two columns, one on the left and one on the right have been cut out, so its hard to tell that she is sitting on a terrace. Also, many of the smaller details are not visible today. The picture has been partially damaged and has been painted over in some places.
Another advancement in the world of art was the way he used light and shadow to construct the colors.
