h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So? Why is she the most talked about piece of art? (well...sort of) She's not even that pretty (*slaps self* naughty naughty. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, remember?). So could someone tell me why that picture is so special?

For one, the price and the painter.

Also the surrounding, where will you find such a tiny picture with such a long line of tourists (mostly japanese) in front of it, taking pictures much worse than the ones you buy in the shop

The best explanation I heard was: A girl who just discovered she is not pregnant.

She was the first medieval Italian woman ever to be seen smiling. She started a trend, but like all fashion it was a passing phase and by the early 1800s humour was completely lost again, replaced with the sad-eyed, lusty Gina Lolabridgiduh type that Fellini portrays.

*amazed that a DaVinci/Fellini connexion has finally been made*

art for Art's sake
~jwf~

In artistic terms, the Mona Lisa is important not merely because it's an exceptionally fine painting, but because it single-handedly (trans)formed the Renaissance style of portraiture. However, the main reason everyone goes to see it is because Da Vinci painted it: who else could produce the finest portrait of its time without it even being his best painting, while being one of the greatest sculptors and scientists in history?

It's also been said that the eyes appear to follow you as you move around the painting. First 3-d holographic image?

Good advertising.

Works every time. Just go to McDonalds.

Steve Martin (back when he was a rising standup comedian) joked that the Mona Lisa doesn't seem that special, but is amazing because she was really painted in just one stroke, and he made an impression da Vinci dipping a brush into a ton of paint and splooshing it onto the canvas. Okay, I guess you had to be there. My delivery is poor...

It fulfils a desperate need in US tourists to view something a bit classy before they die.

People from the rest of the world, not being illiterate, go to Naples or Venice.

Yep, Naples for the pizza and Venice for the boat rides! That's what literacy'll get ya these days.

jwf

Special cos... it's Leo DV in drag.
Oh joy, oh wondrousness etc. to know that just about the world's most accomplished man looked good in a dress.

How much of everything you've all told me am I supposed to believe? I think Naples sounds nicer anyway.
So the Mona Lisa is special because:
*she was the first medieval Italian woman to be seen smiling
*her eyes follow you around the room
*it was da Vinci in drag
*it's popular
*people go from all over the world to see it
*it's a girl who just found out she wasn't pregnant
*done by a famous painter
*people have tried to nick it(?)(I think that's a whole mystery in itself)

Well, no-one's mentioned beauty!

GP

I once went all the way to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. Unfortunately I got there on a Wednesday and, as it happens, the Louvre is closed on Wednesdays.

Beth

oops!
btw, have people tried to nick it, have they been caught, and what was their motive?

Poor Beth... what did you do instead? Try to break in and avoid the queues?
(Anyone for a discussion about the Turin Shroud?)
There are (I think) 2 pictures- same name, same subject, same painter. Can't tell you any more than that until I've done my research.

The most puzzling thing is why didn't he match up the landscape either side of her in the background.

The reason why it is so special: cos everyone who sees it for the first time says exactly the same thing.

"Gosh. It's smaler than I expected..."

... and then spends 15 minutes in front of it trying to work out why it is so special, or if they have just been caught out by a monumental 'emperor's neww clothes' thing...

... and what exactly is in the background. It's so small and dark...

Sorry. Should think before I post.

Also, and not many people know this, if you play the Mona Lisa backwards at 78rpm you'll hear Leonardo telling you how to fake your own Turin shroud...