Fri 4 Feb 2011 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
The Mona Lisa An Italian art researcher and historian believes Leonardo da Vinci modeled the Mona Lisa on the face of his young male lover. Silvano Vinceti says he and his fellow researchers believe the young Gian Giacomo Caprotti, who was one of da Vinci's closest companions, was his lover and inspired the enigmatic face. Da Vinci is generally believed to have been gay. The historians say that there are striking similarities between the Mona Lisa face and other images based on Caprotti, such as two of St John the Baptist and a drawing, Angel Incarnate. Caprotti as St John the Baptist Caprotti was nicknamed the Little Devil and and although he stole from, and caused many problems for, the artist and inventor he was always forgiven by Da Vinci. However, other art historians are sceptical of the claim, with one Da Vinci authority calling it "groundless."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 4th February 2011 - 7:41pm