Below, a few fun facts from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Mona Lisa is mostly happy, a little bit disgusted. Discovery Magazine reported on research on the painted lady's notoriously coy expression. Apparently "researchers at the University of Amsterdam and the University of Illinois used face-recognition software to determine that the Mona Lisa is 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful, and 2% angry."
Leonardo Da Vinci, an accomplished lyre player, was first presented at the Milanese court as a musician, not an artist.
Image:
Study of horses
circa 1490
Silverpoint on prepared paper
Ever the animal rights enthusiast, Leonardo Da Vinci reportedly enjoyed purchasing caged birds so that he could set them free.
Image:
The Virgin of the Rocks
Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo were reportedly frenemies. In "The Lost Battles: Leonardo, Michelangelo and the Artistic Duel That Defined the Renaissance," Jonathan Jones writes that two rival artists would often cause serious reality show level drama by insulting each other in public.
Image:
La Scapigliata
Da Vinci was the first person to explain why the sky is blue. (Light scattering, duh.)
Image:
Lady with an Ermine
oil on panel
Leonardo Da Vinci was also dyslexic, and had trouble reading, writing and spelling. (Luckily his drawing skills weren't too shabby.)
Image:
Vitruvian Man
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