• Quimby [any, any]
      hexagon
      ·
      2 years ago

      nah, I'm with you. I hold Da Vinci in incredibly high esteem--I think there are maybe 10 people in history who are his equal--but I don't get the Mona Lisa.

      I guess my charitable interpretation is that it's a somewhat interesting painting by a truly legendary historical figure, and so there is a fascination with it that has little to do with the artwork itself.

      Like, if Jesus had painted something, I imagine people would want to see it, even if it was complete shit.

    • DinkyBingus [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      It's famous because it's involved in a bunch of heists and attempted vandalisms.

      After it was taken to France by da Vinky, it sat around at Versailles as basically unknown curiosity, until the French Revolution, where it was moved to the Louvre (which had been converted to a public art museum) and began to become known as a da Vinky painting. To the general public though, it was basically unknown.

      It only really gained popularity in 1911 when an Italian nationalist stole it, and it became a big deal in the international press as they searched for the guy who stole it.