MONA LISA & FRIENDS
I have come across pieces of classic art on the internet that have become subjected to parody...and I love them! Among the several works I have collected are the many images of the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, better known as the Mona Lisa. In good conscience, I could not go without adding them to a post on the blog. Ready, set...Go Mona! Go Mona!!
First off, here is the original artwork by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503 - 1519. Everybody in the art community makes a big deal about her smile, but I don't see what the fuss is about.
Now for the variations on the Mona theme that have popped out of the imaginations of artists everywhere....
Sorry Mona! Now wasn't that fun! I don't care if I ever see the Mona Lisa painting again!
Now that I'm on a roll, I'll have a look at the familiar Grant Wood painting:
AMERICAN GOTHIC
In 1930, American artist Grant Wood, painted imagined images of a farmer and his spinster daughter standing in front of a small white house, built in the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. "American Gothic" has since become an iconic image of 19th century Americana.
This work of art has become one of the most parodied images ever! Good to know since I have a lot them to display here!
There are a couple other of my favorite works of art that have suffered the happy indignity of being parodied.
Thomas Gainsborough's most famous painting is of a young man thought to be Jonathan Buttall, the son of a famous merchant. The portrait, painted around 1770, is called The Blue Boy. Here is a good image of the original artwork.
Now look what they've done to poor Jonathan...
If he wasn't blue before, he is now!
Lastly is a work by my favorite classic painter...Vincent Van Gogh. He only sold one of his paintings in his lifetime, and that one was purchased by his brother, Theo. In France, in 1888, he left Paris for the city of Arles. In was there that he painted one of his best known works: Bedroom in Arles. Here is the normal painting...
...and some unique interpretations...