The magic behind Mona Lisa
WOODMEAD - French engineer and Leonardo da Vinci expert Pascal Cotte had a dream to reveal the secrets of the Mona Lisa painting.
In his exhibition, Da Vinci – The Genius, Cotte presents 25 new secrets about Mona Lisa. He was able to highlight these mysteries by designing a unique camera that analyses the reflections of light in the painting, and peels away the layers to find the “DNA” of the painting.
According to Cotte, the camera calculates the light and software extracts and separates the information which helps peel back the layers of the art work.
Cotte had the opportunity to study the painting with an infrared sensor which permitted him to see what is behind and inside the layers of paint.
“The artwork is a great study for art historians and restorers; the technique used by Da Vinci is a complex masterpiece,” he explained. Cotte wanted to present the artwork to the public as more than just a painting.
When asked why the painting had enjoyed such distinction, Cotte said, “At that time, it was a brilliant painting.” As he showed an exact replica of the painting, Cotte stood in awe of the technique. He highlighted the particular strokes and shadows Da Vinci made on Mona Lisa’s face, and described how innovative her position was.
“Mona Lisa’s position is not natural or usual. You can feel the dynamic of the body, as the arms are in one direction and the body is in another,” said Cotte. “It has been the most famous painting in Europe from the beginning, as it built the reputation of great art and technique.”
However, today she is covered with “sick yellow and dark varnish”. For Cotte to reveal the original masterpiece, he had to recover the genuine pigment of the painting.
The camera has the ability to identify and separate these pigments. “Once we discover these pigments, we can restore the original colour,” said Cotte.
He said the show has had great feedback and people want to know more. He encouraged the community to come and learn about Leanardo da Vinci, and see how his art and theories are brought to life.
The exhibition runs until 22 June at The Amazing Place in Woodmead, Sandton.
Details: www.davinciexhibition.co.za
