The mystery of the Mona Lisa and the landscape portrayed behind her continues to fascinate the whole world. In recent days the main international newspapers have taken up the story. The theories expressed up to now were different: an imaginary landscape, Lake Como, Bobbio in the province of Piacenza, the Romito bridge in the Arezzo area.
Now a further explanation emerges, this time accompanied by a strong aura of credibility. The geologist and art historian Ann Pizzorusso claims to have solved one of the most fascinating mysteries: Leonardo in fact set the painting on Lake Garlate, the extreme southern extension of Lake Como.
Pizzorusso compared the bridge designed by Leonardo, the mountain range and the Mona Lisa lake to the 14th century Azzone Visconti bridge in Lecco, to the south-western Prealps that overlook the area and to Lake Garlate. It is worth remembering that Leonardo visited Lake Como and our territory 500 years ago, writing about it on several occasions, in particular in the Codex Atlanticus.
“The similarities are undeniable. I’m really excited about this project. I feel like it’s a stroke of luck,” said the scholar interviewed by the English newspaper The Guardian.
The study method? Mix between Geology and art
According to Pizzorusso, studies, contrary to what has happened to date, must not only focus on the bridge, but also examine the geology.
“The arch bridge was widespread throughout Italy and Europe and many were similar – he explained – It is impossible to identify an exact location just from a bridge. Geologists don’t look at paintings and art historians don’t look at geology – he added – Art historians have said that Leonardo always used his imagination, but you can give this painting to any geologist in the world and they will say what I am saying about Lecco now a non-geologist can see the similarities.”
The rocks in the Lecco area are limestone; Leonardo depicted them with a grey-white color. “It’s perfect, because it’s the type of rock that is in that area – continued the scholar – Unlike Lecco, neither Bobbio nor Arezzo have a lake: so we have a truly perfect test in Lecco”.
Pizzorusso noted that Leonardo always taught his students the importance of representing nature accurately. For her latest research on the Mona Lisa, the woman visited Lecco, retracing Leonardo’s footsteps: “We know from her notebooks that she spent a lot of time exploring the Lecco area and the territory further north”.
In the last few hours many art experts, struck by Pizzorusso’s experience and competence, seem to be convinced that this is the definitive explanation to the mystery of the Mona Lisa.
