In this essay, I will compare and contrast two high renaissance, oil paintings. The first is The Mona Lisa. The Mona Lisa is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci which is one of the most famous works of art in the world. The second painting is The Small Cowper Madonna, which was created by Raffaello Sanzio better known as Raphael, was a high Renaissance Italian painter and architect. Both paintings are actually portraits that exhibit many similar artistic techniques. I chose both of these painting simply because The High Renaissance was my favorite period in art. Creative techniques such as sfumato, chiaroscuro, and realism were invented and are still used today. These techniques were mastered by the artists of the High Renaissance and they used their skills and mastery to create some of the most well-known works in Art History such as The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, School of Athens, and Vitruvian Man. The High Renaissance, in my opinion, was the most creative period. It set the standards …show more content…
The focal point of the painting is illuminated, as if in a spotlight, while the neighboring field is dismal and melancholy. The silhouette of the woman within the painting and her countenance play a crucial role in the painting. The facial expression that Mona Lisa conveys has been described as being unapproachable yet captivating. “The portrait which was painted after 1503 is said to have taken the artist about three years to complete it” (SparkNotes Editors). It is still unclear who Mona Lisa actually illustrates. “Some say it is the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, Lisa Gherardini” (Lavanga). Some believe that “Mona Lisa” isn’t one woman, but a composition of many. As if it depicts the ideal woman. Some even think that it is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci in female clothing. There are many theories about the mysterious identity of Mona Lisa. Right now, the Mona Lisa is on display at The