Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an early pioneer of the frontal portrait type, and his painting Mona Lisa (c. 1503-1506) is a stunning example of his skill. Unlike the more popular profile style portrait of the time that placed material objects around the sitter to convey something about them, da Vinci instead chose a frontal pose with an enigmatic gaze to reveal the sitter’s interiority. The fantastical background behind his female subject creates a realistic sense of depth while also adding a sense of mystery. Looking straight out at the viewer with her infamous ‘Mona Lisa smile,’ one feels they are in the presence of a real person. Perhaps it is this quality that has continued to captivate and inspire audiences today, making it one of the most famous paintings in all of art history.

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