Community discoveries

Art

Every discovery began with someone wanting to know a little more.

4 discoveries

Art2 min read

Mona Lisa ditched her eyebrows to keep up with Florentine fashion

Florentine women of the era often removed their eyebrows entirely, considering a high forehead more beautiful. Leonardo simply painted his sitter in line with the trend. 🖌️

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Art2 min read

The Mona Lisa is painted on a poplar panel just 77 cm tall, not canvas

Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa on a single thin panel of poplar wood, not on canvas, which is why it warped and needed framing support.

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Art2 min read

A nail hole in the Last Supper's table marks the vanishing point of its perfect perspective

Leonardo engineered the mural's one-point perspective so all orthogonals converge at Christ's right temple, right where a nail hole in the table sits. This spot is also the center of the composition.

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Art2 min read

Ultramarine blue was once more expensive than gold

Made from lapis lazuli imported from Afghanistan, ultramarine cost more than gold in the Renaissance. Artists reserved it for the most important parts of paintings, like the Virgin Mary's robe.

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