Mona Lisa: The Secret Smile - Hardcover

Galli, Letizia

4.5

6 ratings by Goodreads

9780385321082: Mona Lisa: The Secret Smile

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385321082 ISBN 13: 9780385321082

Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 1996

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Introducing young readers to the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci, a lavishly illustrated portrait describes the artist's use of riddles in his famous works including the Mona Lisa's mysterious smile. By the author of Michael the Angel.

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Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Italian

From School Library Journal:

Grade 1-3?In this picture-book biography, Leonardo da Vinci inhabits a world of post-modern perspectives and surreal, childlike people. The master himself is realistically portrayed as he goes about inventing, painting, and writing. Surrounded by shapes, forms, and faces representing the cities he visited and the people whose commissions he undertook, the artist rushes from project to project. The pastel colors and chalklike textures of the illustrations convey an abstract but eye-catching atmosphere of energy and creativity, attempting to express the excitement and vigor of the Renaissance and its most famous figure. To some extent, the book succeeds in capturing young readers' interest and introducing them to the great artist. However, the title is misleading, for Leonardo does not paint the Mona Lisa until the penultimate page, and even then there is no secret revealed about the famous smile, beyond the fact that he says " 'I'm going to paint exactly what I see.' " After the pastel hues of Galli's art, the reproduction of the actual painting on the last page shatters the illusion of a magical world inhabited by a master magician and interjects the real world of art history. Galli offers a unique approach to Renaissance art, but fails to challenge the clever paper engineering and artful re-creations of Leonardo's works in Alice and Martin Provensen's Leonardo da Vinci (Viking, 1984).?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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