European Premiere of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’ Florence, Italy
Florence, Italy, 8 June 2019: Leonardo da Vinci’s stunning portrait of the young Lisa Gherardini (Mona Lisa), commissioned in Florence by her husband Francesco del Giocondo (c.1503-1506), was unveiled at the Palazzo Bastogi on June 8th, 2019. Five hundred years after the death of the Master, the ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’ returns to the city where it was created.
The ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’, painted approximately ten years prior to the iconic ‘Mona Lisa’ that hangs in the Louvre, is being presented in the context of an interactive, tablet-led exhibition. The exhibition presents the fascinating discovery of the painting as well as the historical, scientific, mathematical and comparative evidence which demonstrate its authorship by Leonardo da Vinci.
The painting captured the world’s imagination when it was presented to the media in 2012 by The Mona Lisa Foundation (a Swiss non-profit foundation) which announced the findings of over 35 years of research. The exhibition “Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’” premiered in Singapore in 2014 to much acclaim and worldwide interest. This will be the first time that the public will be able to view the painting and see the exhibition in Europe.
Professor Jean-Pierre Isbouts of Fielding Graduate University, who has conducted much research on the painting over a number of years, recalls viewing it for the first time “I was not prepared for the encounter; it was a very emotional experience – and, at that point, there was no longer any question – we were looking at a portrait that was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.”
In 1584, Gian Paolo Lomazzo – one of the most respected art historians of his time – already confirmed the existence of two Mona Lisas. In fact, when the relevant historical evidence is evaluated in full, it becomes apparent that one Mona Lisa portrait, of the young Lisa in her twenties seated between two flanking columns, was commissioned by her husband in Florence c. 1503-1506 and was left unfinished. The other Mona Lisa portrait, a fully finished painting of a more mature Lisa without columns, was commissioned by Giuliano de’Medici and painted in Rome a decade later. The technique that Leonardo used in the second version, the one that hangs in the Louvre, he only started using when Lisa would have been in her thirties – a difference clearly reflected in the respective ages of the faces of the two Lisa portraits.
The ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’, which has likely undergone more scientific tests and examinations than any other painting in history, fascinates scholars around the world.
Since the last exhibition various new and important milestones have been announced:
• In April 2019, Fielding University Press published “Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa: New Perspectives”, a collection of studies about the world-famous portrait of Lisa del Giocondo. Scholars from the U.S., Italy, France, Russia, Britain and Brazil contributed to the publication, edited by Professor Jean-Pierre Isbouts.
Following Professor Isbouts’ previous publications and films on Leonardo, the central conclusion of this publication confirms that the painting ‘Isleworth Mona Lisa’, also known as the ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’, is Leonardo’s portrait of Lisa del Giocondo.
• The results of an intense study of all versions and copies of Mona Lisa paintings by distinguished Italian Professor Salvatore Lorusso, Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and Professor at the University of Bologna and Professor Andrea Natali of the University of Bologna – published in peer-reviewed publications in 2015 and later in 2019 – conclude: “The Louvre ‘Mona Lisa’ and the ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’ are to be considered as two original works, since they were both painted by Leonardo at two different periods.” Professor Lorusso adds: “Humility, together with interdisciplinarity, are very important in the system of attribution and authentication of artworks.”
• A team of professional art-scientists, Professors John. F. Asmus and Jesse Elford from the University of California as well as Professor Vadim Parfenov from the University of Saint-Petersburg, published peer-reviewed analyses in 2016 and 2019 which scientifically establish that it was the same hand that painted the faces and hands of both the Louvre ‘Mona Lisa’ and the ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’. In their words: “We can now confirm with 99% probability, i.e. practical certainty, that the faces of the Earlier / Isleworth and Louvre Mona Lisas were painted by the same artist.”
• Recent research has likely traced the painting from Italy to Somerset, England, where it was brought by Thomas Marwood who returned from his “Grand Tour” in the 1770s when it was already acknowledged as a Leonardo work. This led to its acquisition in 1913 by art curator and respected connoisseur Hugh Blaker, who brought it to his studio in Isleworth, London, at which point the painting became known as the ‘Isleworth Mona Lisa’.
The Princesses Natalia and Irina Strozzi, direct descendants of Lisa Gherardini, unveiled the painting that was commissioned by their ancestor saying: “We are delighted to support this ground-breaking exhibition which returns the portrait of our famous ancestor to Florence to be appreciated by the public.”
The Mona Lisa Foundation endeavours to allow all members of the public to experience the genius of Leonardo da Vinci through a series of worldwide exhibitions. The painting itself is presented in a custom-made case with special fluctuating lighting which enables everyone to admire Leonardo’s unique mastery of light and shadow. A special Kids Tour was created to accompany the more sophisticated tour and specially engage and instruct a young audience. For the European Premiere, working with the Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted and the University of Florence Architectural Department – with thanks to the generosity of Ramunion, Italy – tactile reproductions of both the Louvre ‘Mona Lisa’ and the ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’, accompany the audio tour.
“In 2019, the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death, we are delighted to bring the ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’ to its original home in Florence for the first time in centuries. It is a particularly important occasion to share the magic of Leonardo’s work with those who may never have been able to experience the paintings of this genius ” commented Dr. Markus A. Frey, President of the Mona Lisa Foundation.
EUROPEAN PREMIERE: ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’
PALAZZO BASTOGI
18 via Cavour
Florence, Italy
10 JUNE – 30 JULY 2019
Open Monday to Friday: 10:30 – 17:30
Thursday: late opening to 19:30
Closed: June 17th and July 11th
Private Evening Guided Tours available at :
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