For centuries, the “Mona Lisa” has been captivating admirers and sparking countless questions about everything from the subject’s enigmatic expression to the secrets behind its creation. While many of these mysteries may remain unsolved, one that might finally be cracked is the location of the landscape in Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting.
Ann Pizzorusso, a geologist and Renaissance art historian, suggests that da Vinci captured several elements of Lecco, a city on the southeastern shore of Lake Como, in the masterpiece. “Art historians said Leonardo always used his imagination, but you can give this picture to any geologist in the world and they’ll say what I’m saying about Lecco,” she told The Guardian.
Pizzorusso focused on the gray-white limestone rocks in the background, which match the type of rock found in Lecco. She also pointed out that the region’s lake, botany, and bridge align with the elements depicted in the painting.
Bringing her research full circle, Pizzorusso presented her theories at a geology conference last weekend in, you guessed it, Lecco. “I am actually euphoric about these findings — and there is a near-certain possibility that Leonardo painted [the landscape] from the exact spot where we are holding our conference,” she said ahead of the event. Check out the side-by-side images of the “Mona Lisa” and Lecco.
