Did you know the Mona Lisa has a twin?
You don't realize how bad a state it's in until you see the two side-by-side.
And it shows why restorations in art are a major problem… (thread) 🧵
You don't realize how bad a state it's in until you see the two side-by-side.
And it shows why restorations in art are a major problem… (thread) 🧵
Comments
But the varnish can't be replaced without risking taking Leonardo's incredibly fine layers away with it.
And since Lisa has lost them in the original, we can see how her eyebrows would've looked...
The paintings are very similar, but the Madrid version lacks the subtle "sfumato" Leonardo used to blur borders and infuse it with mystery.
But there's a big problem with this...
It returned far more vivid, but the restorers went too far, removing carbon black they thought to be soot — but was intended as shadow.
Restorers even botched some of the details entirely, and several of Christ's ancestors lost their eyes in the process.
In particular, note the blue mountains, not green forest, behind.
You make us think about art and that’s great!
🙏