What does an amateur historian from Chatham and an Italian geologist and Renaissance art historian have in common?
What does an amateur historian from Chatham and an Italian geologist and Renaissance art historian have in common?
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They both may have evidence that explains why famous artist Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa smiling.
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Seven years ago, Greg Sereda began studying the use of pun and rebus – word puzzles – in the work of one of the world’s most famous artists.
Researching numerous scholarly articles on da Vinci’s use of pun and rebuses, to which he had access to the Leddy library at the University of Windsor while studying to be a nurse, Sereda said there seemed to be a signature or identification within his paintings.
“It’s something that is very personal and very unique about each of da Vinci’s paintings that suggest exactly who he was exactly painting it for or who it was commissioned by,” he said.
His research led him to believe da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa in the Italian city of Lecco, located on a section of Lake Como, where the mountains Grigna Settenrionale and Grigna Meridonale are located.
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Sereda was elected to see a media report that geologist and Renaissance art historian Ann Pizzorusso recently presented her findings at a geology conference in Lecco that da Vinci’s world-famous portrait was painted in the area.
“I was quite enthralled by it, because it was pretty much exactly where I came up with it,” he said.
“I firmly believe she is correct in her location,” he said.
Sereda points out grinna in the name of the two mountains at Lecco means grin.
“I am suggesting now that the grin concept actually is a portion of an identification signature that is actually a play on words, just the same as everything else,” he said.
He also noted the Italian word for the Mona Lisa is Gioconda, which means jovial, joyous or happy.
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“The reason he chose a mountain with the name ‘grin’ and chose to put a grin on her face, is actually, from what I can tell, is a play on words of La Gioconda,” Sereda said.
“Now, all this information that I have already come across is just starting to make sense to me now, perfectly,” he added.
According to a recent story in the DailyMail.com, after Sereda shared her theory with Pizzorusso, she found herself smiling over its significance.
“I got the pun immediately,” Pizzorusso told the DailyMail.com. “Leonardo traveled extensively across this area and the geology has just revealed the secret to the Mona Lisa’s smile.”
She also told the DailyMail.com: “A little-known aspect of Leonardo’s talents was that he had a great sense of humor, composing riddles and puns.”
Sereda admits being discouraged at the response received when he shared his findings with a professor in Great Britain back in 2018.
But, now that Pizzorusso’s findings are being well received, he said, “I would love to get a hold of somebody who has some credentials” to share his research.
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