Most Influential era in Arts

     The History of Arts has undergone a lot of progress, changes and had acquired lots of knowledge regarding the subject through different and passing eras. These are the Ancient art, Egyptian Art, Classical Greek and Roman Art, the Renaissance, the Baroque Era, Asian Art, The Early 20^th Century Art and Contemporary Art. But what is indeed the most influential era among these great periods?

     As for me, it is the Classical Greek and Roman era. Why? The Classical Greek and Roman art’s ideals about reaching perfection and using imitation of reality into art had influenced many realism styles into their canvasses and sculptures. Not only does it reach for humanity’s ideal profile, but it also developed the form, balance and proportion in various works (e.g. painting and architecture). Euclid’s ‘Golden section’ or “Divine Proportion”-as Leonardo da Vinci calls it-is a good evidence of it. The Classical Greek and Roman period has been also responsible for the ‘rebirth’ of Renaissance-an era wherein arts, literature and music had bloomed. It was when Latin scholars focused on studying Greek and Arabian works. They were fascinated and inspired by the Classical Greek/Roman era for their ideals, philosophies, inventions and many more that studying it was spread throughout times. From Renaissance, different styles of art had sprung: starting from realism towards abstractionism. The Ionic, Doric and Corinthian order have put a heavy contribution in architecture, even in modern times.

    
 I pointed out the aeon of Greek and Roman art as the most influential; not only for its addition to the art history but because it started the notions for the prized masterpieces of today.

The woman behind Mona Lisa

  

Mona Lisa, known as the most controversial painting, is created by Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci. It was painted between years 1503 and 1506 in Florence. Italy and was inherited by his apprentice, Gian Giacom Caprotti (also known as Salai). It is currently residing in Musêe de Louvre, Paris.
     But who is the woman behind the mysterious smile, the sitter of a masterpiece largely appreciated by the world? Mona Lisa is traditionally known as Lisa de Gherardini del Giocando (according to Giorgio Visari) the wife of a wealthy Florentine silk merchant-Francesco del Giocondo, who was said to be 14 years her senior. Various researches have told that she was at least 24 years old when she was painted as Da Vinci’s commission to celebrate their new home and the birth of their second son, Andreâ. Italian scholar and the one who published the ‘Mona Lisa Revealed’, have supported Lisa del Giocondo as the model. According to him, she has five kids and it was Da Vici’s father-Sir Piero Da Vinci, who is a friend of Sir Del Giocondo, have likely proposed his son to paint Lady Lisa. There is also wherein Da Vinci has spoke of a portrait “of a certain Florentine lady done from life at the request of the magnificent Giuliano de Medici”, but no further evidence that they have a link to each other.

     There were many explanations of Mona Lisa’s identity possibilities. Some have claimed that it was Leonardo’s ideal woman, a portrait of his assistant Salai and some claiming it is his mother. Lilian Schwartz suggested that it was Leonardo’s self portrait; Maike Vogt-Luersen said that it was the Duchess of Milan, Isabella of Aragon, pointing out that the pattern on the dark green dress is an indication of a member of the house of Visconti Sforza. With the discovery of the University of Heidelberg, it seems that the identity had been confirmed. It was told that Roman philosopher Cicero, a Florentine official and Da Vinci’s friend-Agostino Vespucci, has wrote that Da Vinci has indeed worked on the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo during 1503.

Sources from: http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-%E2%80%93-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2012/oct/04/mona-lisa-leonardo-painting

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/080115-AP-monalisa.html