Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa—one of the most famous paintings in the world—is shrouded in mystery, from questions about the figure’s identity to her puzzling, enigmatic expression. According to a geologist based in Italy, at least one of the artwork’s secrets has been revealed.
The Enigma of Lecco
Ann Pizzorusso, a geologist and an art historian specializing in Leonardo and the Renaissance era, believes she has deduced the location of the Mona Lisa using her geological expertise. “In his notebook, he mentions being in Lecco,” Pizzorusso told CNN in a phone interview. “He was working as an engineer.”
Three decades ago, Pizzorusso visited the town of Lecco on the southeastern shore of Lake Como in Italy — where she believes the painting is set — to retrace Leonardo’s steps, armed with diary entries and drawings from the artist. Although Leonardo’s project was canceled, his geological field sketches remained. One red chalk drawing of a mountain range near Lecco belongs to the Royal Collection at Windsor, London.
New Geological Insights
Pizzorusso is not the first to have theorized about the Mona Lisa’s location. In 2011, an art historian attributed the painting’s scenery to a small town called Bobbio, while another attributed it to Arezzo. However, Pizzorusso believes she is the first geologist to make this connection.
Previous calculations have concentrated on the arched bridge over the Mona Lisa’s right shoulder. However, Pizzorusso insists more can be gleaned from the unique rock formation on the horizon. “Bridges are fungible,” she said. “If you look in the background, you’ll see pinnacles. It’s a type of erosion that happens in limestone with fractures and breaks off in blocks, almost like a sawtooth pattern… We can show limestone exists in (Lecco). When you look at the Mona Lisa, a series of mountains in the background has this sawtooth pattern.”
The Glacial Lake of Como
The body of water behind Mona Lisa is geologically specific, believed by Pizzorusso to be Lake Como — a subalpine glacial lake dating back around 10,000 years. “If you look behind her, you have the elongated glacial lakes that have a particular form like fingers,” she said. “Because when the glacier moved, it scoured certain pieces of land.”
An Interdisciplinary Approach
Despite her confidence, Pizzorusso kept her inklings quiet for 30 years, telling only other Leonardo scholars in casual conversation. She returned to Lecco this week, still assured that “everything added up,” and will now present her findings at a geology conference in the town.
While the pairing of earth science and art history may seem disparate, Pizzorusso argues the interdisciplinary approach can enrich the viewing experience of Leonardo’s work. “Botticelli, even Michelangelo did terrible backgrounds because they felt the figures were more important,” she told CNN. “If the background is painted right, it gives you more of an appreciation for nature.” However, Pizzorusso admits she is surprised at the widespread interest. “Maybe (Leonardo) was trying to channel me for the environmental movement or something,” she joked. “It’s a testament to how much people love this painting.”
New Questions Arise
But the discovery may only lead to more mystery. If the location is Lecco, as Pizzorusso suggests, more questions remain about why the renowned painter chose that particular spot for this specific portrait.
“We don’t know who (Mona Lisa) is; some believe she was a rich Tuscan merchant’s wife,” she said, referring to a famous historical theory that proposes the figure was based on Italian noblewoman Lisa Gherardini. “Why did he put her in this wild, untamed environment? This is not Tuscany. What was he trying to tell us by putting this serene, enigmatic lady in this rugged, alpine environment?” said Pizzorusso.
“I’m intrigued about his message to us.”
