Mona Lisa was a man, says expert

An Italian researcher, Silvano Vinceti, has an opinion about Mona Lisa: she was a he. Vinceti announced today that a male apprentice of Leonardo da Vinci was the real model for the famous painting. Gian Giacomo Caprotti, known as Salai, studied under Leonardo and he was a longtime companion of his. Vinceti speculates that Caprotti may have also been a lover of Leonardo's. After all, artists' lovers are often times their muses.

In Vinceti's release of this news, he makes a point to say that the portrait represents a synthesis of Leonardo's scientific, artistic, and philosophical beliefs. Leonardo worked on this portrait for several years, at various intervals. Because of this, he was subjected to different influences and inspiration sources. The canvas is also full of hidden symbolic messages and meanings. Caprotti worked with Leonardo for more than two decades beginning in 1490. Although their relationship seems to be definitively ambiguous, many art historians agree with Vinceti and believe that Caprotti was Leonardo's lover.

And hey, I just want to point out, the letters for the name 'Lisa' are found in the name 'Salai'. Read more on this discovery at ABC. [Thanks, ABC]

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Europe, Italy, News