Art historians and laymen alike have been enchanted for centuries by the mysterious beauty of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Trials, examinations and analysis have led to remarkable new discoveries on the painting’s origins and its key works. Turns out the world-famous work might have an even more interesting genesis than we first thought. New evidence has emerged, hinting at Leonardo’s possible creation of a nude Mona Lisa. This discovery has the potential to resoundingly upset our long-held understanding of one of art history’s most beloved personalities.
Mona Lisa’s hands probably aren’t what people look at her for today. Yet, they were all immensely important in Renaissance Italy. The emphatic placement of the crossed arms and hands developed by her sculptor was most widely copied in household porcelain and paper decorations of the era. This detail, one of many that has made the painting, and its creator, all the more mysterious.
Another painting by Houghton, held by Robert Walpole, has recently drawn headlines. It is very similar indeed to the Chantilly drawing, even down to the nude version of the Mona Lisa. Leonardo’s use of the rocky blue landscape, common in his late works, is present in the Houghton piece. This addition serves to underscore Leonardo’s evolving aesthetic. It signals the departure from his youthful masterpieces in Milan to his full maturity upon his later works, like his unequivocal masterpieces in Rome.
Robert’s son Horace Walpole, then only 26 years old, was the first to catalogue the Houghton collection. That’s what led him as a child to wrongly think that his father’s “Joconda,” an engraving of this work, was the original Mona Lisa. It’s a mistake that exposes the persistent obfuscation at play in the various representations of Leonardo’s iconic work.
Leonardo’s Mona Lisa embodies the notion of artistic perfection, whether she is painted fully garbed or naked. The model who posed for Raphael’s La Fornarina also posed nude for his chief assistant, Raphael’s second-in-command, Giulio Romano. This relationship is a testament to just how connected the creations of these iconic performers truly are. All of this was happening during an amazing period of hedonism and artistic innovation in Rome.
Any attempt we make to step into that world proves completely jaw-dropping and downright scandalous in a way that’s exciting and flirtatious. Around 1520, Raphael himself painted a young woman lounging in a garden without her top—an audacious portrayal that reflects the cultural norms of the time.
Both share the same alluringly placed hands and show what looks like the same model. The similarity between these two works is far too interesting to be coincidence.
Experts have told us that there are unmistakably strong signals in each document. We particularly like their description of how the artwork conveys the model’s calm demeanor and elegant stance. The nude Mona Lisa ‘caricature’ at Chantilly features elegant hands. These enhancements mirror what has drawn visitors to Leonardo’s painting for centuries.
If Leonardo indeed created a nude version of Mona Lisa, it offers profound insights into both the painting itself and its creator’s intentions. This interpretation opens up a deeper consideration of how the viewing public comprehends artistic expression in the renaissance.
In October 1517, Leonardo welcomed notable visitors to his chateau: Cardinal Luigi of Aragon and his cleric Antonio de Beatis. Perhaps these interactions shaped his development as an artist, as he strove to balance the needs of a politically charged patronage with the will of the people.
On September 24, 1513, Leonardo packed his bags and tired of Milan’s climate of political repression departed for Rome. There, Giuliano de’ Medici, papal nephew and cardinal, provided him with a studio at the Belvedere in the papal palace. This decision became a pivotal turning point in his career. More importantly, it opened the door for him to explore new styles and themes, all while connecting with some of the most influential figures of his time.
Leonardo’s Mona Lisa is known for her enigmatic smile and calm appearance. Her gaze and nostrils are magnetic, carefully rendered in the same way as his past muses. The sheer silk wrapping that forms a veil over her head enhances the otherworldly effect and bewitches observers even more.
“The Joconda, a Smith’s Wife, reckon’d the handsomest Woman of her Time: She was Mistress to Francis I, King of France; by Lionardo da Vinci.” – Historical records
The stories behind these masterpieces provide rich insights into what society valued, what artists strived for and achieved, and the Renaissance itself. The nude Mona Lisa embodies a bridge between beauty and sensuality, challenging conventions while celebrating femininity in its most nuanced forms.
With each new scholarly inquiry into these connections, you peel back a layer of meaning that deepens our appreciation for this most enigmatic of Leonardo’s oeuvre. The possible existence of a nude Mona Lisa only further illustrates Leonardo’s astonishing genius. It challenges us, too, to consider how art can both mirror the cultural landscape shifts and polarization and richness of lived experience in our communities.