Mona Lisa’s Twinkie

Guess what Lisa dear- you’ve got some serious Spanish competition.  That’s right, the Prado Museum unearthed a blackened copy of you in their vaults and have restored her.  It turns out she was painted right along side you in Leonardo’s studio.  Probably by DaVinci’s apprentice and possibly brushed by the master himself.  I think you are going down as the queen of iconic art, because she is well. . .sooo much prettier!

Yes, I hear a great yawp the halls of the Louvre.  I’m sorry m’ lady, but you’re a middle-aged dud.   You are small and rather drab, under layers of brownish glaze. Your face puffy, your eyes swollen.  Just not a winning combination in my book.  Frankly, the Cole Porter song about you is better. BTW I’ve got a little place around the corner that can fix you up with some nice eye-lash extensions (wink Cosmetic Ultralounge).

Your twin sis, however is young and vibrant.  She looks at least 20 years younger blushing a fresh pink glow and chestnut highlighted locks. She’s got the eyelash extensions I suggested (nice eyebrows), and thrown on a little lip gloss to boot.  The delicate blues and golds of the imagined backdrop set off her complexion nicely.  The harsh rugged landscape contrasts with her soft sweetness.  I hate to break it to you, but after 500 years of undisputed reign, you’ll soon reunite with her, side by side at the Louvre.  Mano-y-mano (or is that mona-y-mona?) competing for the crown. Sadly, there are no planned restoration projects in the works for you.  Who will the public decree is the prettiest one of them all?

A detail of the nearly-conserved Prado copy of the Mona Lisa (Photo: © Museum Nacional del Prado)

Mona Lisa also La Gioconda or La Joconde, Leonardo DaVinci, Louvre, Paris France

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/mona-lisa-copy-done-hand-_n_1249931.html?ref=arts  To see the video