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19.12.2020 16:42 •  Английский язык

Хелп гайс LEONARDO DA VINCI

Everything you should know about Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa

It’s the most famous work of art on the planet. The Mona Lisa is also known

as La Gioconda.

Leonardo da Vinci painted it between 1503 and 1506. We know that the

painting was special to Leonardo because he spent so long working on it. In one of

his notebooks he wrote, “Tell me, tell me, has one ever finished anything?”

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (his full name) was born in 1452, the son of a

lawyer in the Tuscan town of Vinci. He didn’t have a classical education but became

an apprentice in the studio of painter and sculptor Andrea Verrocchio. He spent 13

years there, learning and working with other important painters such as Sandro

Botticelli.

He was a vegetarian.

Apart from being an artist, Leonardo was an engineer, inventor and

philosopher. He also loved geology, anatomy and astronomy. As a scientist, he was

ahead of his time.

He died in France in 1519, aged 67.

We don’t have any final proof of the identity of the woman in the painting.

Most people agree that it is a portrait of Mona Lisa, who married Francesco di

Bartolomeo di Zanoli del Giocondo in 1495. The title La Gioconda comes from his

last name.

There have been theories that the portrait is of Leonardo’s vision of an ideal

woman or of an adolescent boy dressed as a woman or even a self-portrait.

It was painted on a thin backing of wood, which is now extremely fragile. This

is why it is preserved behind a glass case.

The painting was acquired by François I of France. He knew Leonardo when

the painter lived in France.

The painting remained in French royal collections from the beginning of the

16th century to the creation of the Central Arts Museum at the Louvre in 1793.

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The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre on 21 August, 1911. An Italian

painter, Vincenzo Peruggia, stole it to return it to its country of origin. It was found

almost two years later.

Since then, the painting has left France on two occasions: in 1963 to the United

States and in 1974 to Japan. The painting was welcomed in both countries like a

visiting film star.

President John F Kennedy opened the Mona Lisa exhibition at the National

Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, saying, “This painting is the second lady that the

people of France have sent to the United States and, though she will not stay with us

as long as the Statue of Liberty, our appreciation is equally great.”

The Mona Lisa is housed at the Louvre in Paris.

2. What can you remember? Complete the summary.

The Mona Lisa was painted around (1)

years ago. The other name for the Mona Lisa is

(2), which is based on her husband’s

(3). It was painted sometime between

(4) and (5). The

French king (6) acquired the painting when

Leonardo da Vinci went to live in France at the end of his life, and it’s now on

display at the (7) art gallery in

(8). It’s kept behind a

(9) because it was painted on a thin layer of wood

and so is very fragile. The Mona Lisa has left the gallery only

(10) times: once when it was stolen by a painter

who wanted to return it to (11) and twice on

loan to other countries – the (12) and

(13).

Leonardo da Vinci’s full name was Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci. He was

born in (1) in the town of

(2) in Tuscany and died at the age of

(3) in (4). He studied

painting and sculpture for 13 years under (5) but,

apart from being an artist, he was also an important

(6). He was also interested in

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(7), (8) and

(9). A curious fact about Leonardo da Vinci is that

he didn’t eat (10).

3. Here are descriptions of some of Leonardo's works of art. Match them up to

the titles given below.

1. The Apostles are presented in four groups of three each.

2. Christ Child manifests his Divinity as he blesses the infant St. John.

3. This painting depicts an event from 15-th century history.

4. The face has suffered in the course of time but nothing has spoiled the sad half

smile that plays about the lips.

5. It was never carried any further than the monochrome underpaint.

6. The Virgin sits on her mother's lap, as in traditional representations of this theme.

a. Mona Lisa

b. Adoration of the Magi

c. Madonna of the Rocks

d. Last Supper

e. Madonna and Saint Anna

f. Battle ofAnghiari