Course "Arts Diary" - Arts Diary & Pad

Why is Mona Lisa a masterpiece and Mengs’s self-portrait a little-known painting?

Why is Mona Lisa a masterpiece the whole world knows about? But almost no one knows the self-portrait by Raphael Mengs?

Indeed, Mona Lisa looks almost alive. Hidden in the mist, as if she’s about to speak...

But Mengs’s self-portrait is also incredible!

Compare them. The artist is looks alive as well! I would say that he’s even more alive than Mona Lisa.

It’s even difficult to distinguish his image from a photo! Incredibly soft hair. Deep eyes. I can even see fuzz on his face!

Anton Raphael Mengs. Self-Portrait in the Red Coat. 1744. Dresden art gallery.

It’s all about... the DATE of painting!

Mengs painted his self-portrait in 1744. 225 years after Leonardo da Vinci.

Mengs was an outstanding imitator! He rehashed many of the old masters with extraordinary precision and even better technique.

If he had worked in Leonardo’s era, he would have been known as the most brilliant artist!

By the way, this also works vice versa.

If Mona Lisa had been created in the 18th century, no one would have noticed it. Among such portraits by Mengs!

But the power of Mona Lisa... in the context.

This is the very first image of a person that is realistic to such an extent!

Of course, in the 17th century, artists have already learned to create lifelike portraits. When you can almost feel the pulse through the skin.

But for the beginning of the 16th century, it was UNPRECEDENTEDLY!

Leonardo Da Vinci. Portrait of Lisa del Giocondo. 1503-1519. Louvre, Paris.

That is why it is so important to know the history of painting. To understand what’s special about it. What do all art critics admire so much?

That’s why I have introduced this series of lessons – The Guide to the History of Painting.

After studying the Guide, you will comprehend the “skeleton” of painting. Simply put -will get the understanding of the context.

The context will make it easier for you to realize how great a particular masterpiece is.

From the course, you will also learn:

- Who was the first to take the brush

- Who was the first artist to paint nude

- Who once painted three-dimensional faces, and who depicted his contemporary

- How the painting went on vacation in the 18th century: the light Rococo replaced the austere Сlassicism

- Why did the Impressionists dissolve figures in space

- Why artists of the late 19th century refused beauty and began to distort forms

- Why in the 20th century a dead shark and alcohol were used instead of paints and canvas

And what is going on with painting right now

Hello! My name Oksana Kopenkina and I an art analyst and just an experienced painting enthusiast🙂

I am the founder of Arts Diary website and the author of 165 unique articles about artists and paintings, from the ancient world to the present days. As well as the creator of several courses on art.

My blog and courses are neither a gallery of reproductions nor an encyclopedia. Here, I’m searching for answers to the questions “Why is this picture a masterpiece?” and “Why is this artist a genius?”