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160-535: The title is a reference to the Mona Lisa , the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci , and to the song of the same name , originally performed by Nat King Cole , which was covered by Seal for the film. Julia Roberts received a record $ 25 million for her performance, the highest ever earned by an actress at that time. In 1953, 30-year-old Katherine Ann Watson accepts an Art History teaching position at Wellesley College . She quickly discovers her students have memorized

320-514: A Colour Rendering Index of up to 98 and minimizes infrared and ultraviolet radiation, which could otherwise degrade the painting. The renovation of the gallery where the painting now resides was financed by the Japanese broadcaster Nippon Television . As of 2019, about 10.2 million people view the painting at the Louvre each year. On the 500th anniversary of the master's death, the Louvre held

480-701: A Mona Lisa parody made by adorning a cheap reproduction with a moustache and goatee. Duchamp added an inscription, which when read out loud in French sounds like "Elle a chaud au cul" meaning: "she has a hot ass", implying the woman in the painting is in a state of sexual excitement and intended as a Freudian joke . According to Rhonda R. Shearer , the apparent reproduction is in fact a copy partly modelled on Duchamp's own face. Salvador Dalí , famous for his surrealist work, painted Self portrait as Mona Lisa in 1954. Andy Warhol created serigraph prints of multiple Mona Lisa s, called Thirty Are Better than One , following

640-503: A book about his time spent imprisoned at a concentration camp. The show was released in May 2024, with The Daily Beast ' s Nick Schager pointing out Lynskey's chemistry with Keitel, but criticising the quality of the wig she had to wear in an effort to resemble the real Morris; while other reviewers believed her work to be "understated [and] endlessly empathetic", as well as "measured, nuanced, textured, and altogether beautiful". Owing to

800-423: A 1477 printing of a volume by ancient Roman philosopher Cicero . Dated October 1503, the note was written by Leonardo's contemporary Agostino Vespucci . This note likens Leonardo to renowned Greek painter Apelles , who is mentioned in the text, and states that Leonardo was at that time working on a painting of Lisa del Giocondo. In response to the announcement of the discovery of this document, Vincent Delieuvin,

960-411: A 1950s murder case . Lynskey portrayed Pauline Parker, a schoolgirl who conspires to kill her own mother. She auditioned for the role when a casting director visited her high school; prior to this, five hundred girls had been considered for the part, but "none were right". Fran Walsh , who co-wrote the screenplay, admired Lynskey's "quiet intensity" and said, "We knew immediately that she was right for

1120-418: A 34% approval rating based on 151 reviews, with an average score of 4.9/10 and a consensus: "Though Mona Lisa Smile espouses the value of breaking barriers, the movie itself is predictable." On Metacritic , the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". In a typical review, Claudia Puig of USA Today wrote, "it's Dead Poets Society as

1280-411: A chick flick, without the compelling drama and inspiration... even Roberts doesn't seem convinced. She gives a rather blah performance as if she's not fully committed to the role... Rather than being a fascinating exploration of a much more constrained time in our social history, the film simply feels anachronistic. The film deserves a solid 'C' for mediocrity and muted appeal." Critic Elizabeth M. Tamny of

1440-400: A conservation and study team replaced the maple crosspieces with sycamore ones, and an additional metal crosspiece was added for scientific measurement of the panel's warp. The Mona Lisa has had many different decorative frames in its history. In 1909, the art collector Comtesse de Béhague gave the portrait its current frame, a Renaissance-era work consistent with the historical period of

1600-448: A cult classic, The A.V. Club commented, "Lynskey steals the show with her amazing putdowns and passive-aggressiveness, smartly avoiding overdone sass or sarcasm". Between 2015 and 2016, Lynskey played Michelle Pierson on HBO 's Togetherness , which focused on the lives of two couples living under the same roof. Created by the Duplass brothers , the heavily improvised dramedy series

1760-616: A daughter. Lynskey was born in New Plymouth , New Zealand, to Kay Lynskey, a real estate agent, and Tim Lynskey, an orthopedic surgeon. Their surname is Irish. Lynskey played an active role in the raising of her siblings; she is the eldest of five children, and has three brothers and one sister. She was raised in the Baptist faith. When she was six, Lynskey's family moved to England for one year before returning to New Zealand. She recalls moving "a lot" due to her father's profession: "My dad

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1920-521: A geomorphology professor at Urbino University and an artist-photographer revealed that Mona Lisa ' s landscape was similar to some views in the Montefeltro region in the Italian provinces of Pesaro and Urbino , and Rimini . Research in 2023/2024 by geologist and art historian Ann Pizzorusso suggests that the landscape contains "several recognisable features of Lecco , on the shores of Lake Como in

2080-632: A key role in the romantic comedy Sweet Home Alabama , with The Austin Chronicle mentioning her as a highlight among the ensemble cast. The scene in which her character, Lurlynn, nurses her baby in a crowded bar has since been recognised for its cultural relevance. Next, she had a supporting role in Abandon , the directorial debut of Stephen Gaghan . In his review of the psychological thriller, Variety ' s Todd McCarthy pointed out that Lynskey did "some self-conscious scene stealing" with her portrayal of

2240-413: A lesbian undergoing conversion therapy. Next, she wore "big hair and fake nails" to portray Gloria, a girl from New Jersey, in the musical romantic comedy Coyote Ugly (2000), with Salon ' s Stephanie Zacharek calling her "a bridge-and-tunnel Betty Boop , full of google-eyed charm". She then returned to New Zealand to star in the independent thriller Snakeskin (2001), which premiered at

2400-603: A mousy librarian. She made her television debut that same year in the Stephen King miniseries Rose Red , playing the protective older sister of a girl with supernatural powers. In Shattered Glass (2003), a drama depicting the downfall of disgraced ex-journalist Stephen Glass , Lynskey appeared as Amy Brand, a writer for The New Republic . Critic Andrew Sarris noted that "the performances [of] Ms. Sevigny , Ms. Dawson and Ms. Lynskey do more than [just] complement Mr. Christensen 's central characterization; they provide

2560-536: A new mother desperate to get away from her abusive husband, as "especially compelling". Her next project was the Western miniseries Comanche Moon , which aired on CBS in January 2008. In their critique of the show, People felt that Lynskey's portrayal of Pearl Coleman, a settler whose marriage falls apart after she is raped, was among the best in the cast. Later that year, she returned once again to New Zealand to headline

2720-586: A nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress , and was singled out by numerous publications as being worthy of an Emmy nomination . It was announced in March 2016 that HBO would not be renewing Togetherness for a third season; Lynskey compared this to having her "heart broken by someone I'm still in love with". For her starring role in The Intervention (2016), Lynskey received

2880-528: A normal job.' No one wanted to be responsible for me being like, 'I'm gonna run off to Hollywood!' ... New Zealanders are very practical. Everybody was kind of like, 'That was fun [but] it's not what your life is gonna be'". Over the next three years, Lynskey continued her education while auditioning for various film parts. She also had a minor role as a policewoman in Peter Jackson's first project after Creatures , The Frighteners (1996), and starred in

3040-419: A particular song I keep going back to that puts me in the right emotional place". In 2012, Lynskey voiced an animated version of herself in a pre-flight safety video for Air New Zealand . In February 2013, she participated in a Live Read performance of the 1992 film Glengarry Glen Ross . The event was directed by Jason Reitman , who assembled a cast of women to read the all-male script; Lynskey played

3200-402: A period of curatorial maintenance, recording, and analysis—the painting was moved to a new location within the museum's Salle des États. It is displayed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled enclosure behind bulletproof glass. Since 2005, the painting has been illuminated by an LED lamp , and a new 20-watt LED lamp that was specially designed for this painting was installed in 2013. The lamp has

3360-642: A production of Jean Genet 's The Maids for the New Zealand Fringe Festival . Her return to substantial film roles came with the independent drama Foreign Correspondents , where she played Melody, a timid receptionist who strikes up an unusual bond with an overseas pen pal. The director, Mark Tapio Kines , contacted Lynskey to offer her the part after reading online that she was eager to work in America. Filming took place in Los Angeles in 1997, with

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3520-450: A representation of the femme fatale . The Baedeker guide in 1878 called it "the most celebrated work of Leonardo in the Louvre", but the painting was known more by the intelligentsia than the general public. The 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa and its subsequent return was reported worldwide, leading to a massive increase in public recognition of the painting. During the 20th century, it

3680-546: A result of her involvement with Men , Lynskey decided to leave the main ensemble in 2005 to concentrate on film work; a move that showrunner Chuck Lorre said he had "a lot of respect for", despite "not [being] happy at first". She returned infrequently to Men as a guest star up until its final episode, which aired in February 2015. "Doing three or four episodes a year enabled me to pay my mortgage and do independent films", she later said. "People in [the indie world] didn't know I

3840-427: A result, it was thought that the Mona Lisa had been trimmed. However, by 1993, Frank Zöllner observed that the painting surface had never been trimmed; this was confirmed through a series of tests in 2004. In view of this, Vincent Delieuvin , curator of 16th-century Italian painting at the Louvre, states that the sketch and these other copies must have been inspired by another version, while Zöllner states that

4000-402: A rock at the Mona Lisa while it was on display at the Louvre. He did so with such force that it shattered the glass case and dislodged a speck of pigment near the left elbow. The painting was protected by glass because a few years earlier a man who claimed to be in love with the painting had cut it with a razor blade and tried to steal it. Since then, bulletproof glass has been used to shield

4160-496: A ruthless war criminal. The character was created specially for the series by executive producer Craig Mazin , who wanted to work with Lynskey. The show premiered in January 2023, with Stephen Kelly of BBC Culture stating that Lynskey's "chillingly violent" performance was "superb"; while Daniel Fienberg felt she was "thoroughly effective" in his review for The Hollywood Reporter , and Ben Travers of IndieWire wrote that one piece of dialogue in particular—"kids die, they die all

4320-496: A sane backdrop for [his] pathological deceptions to steadily unravel against". Later that year, she began playing the part of Rose , an endearingly devious stalker, on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men . Having initially made a one-off appearance in the pilot episode, she was invited by the producers to become a series regular, and went on to feature in various storylines throughout the first two seasons. Worried about being typecast as

4480-577: A soon-to-be bride, in the Oscar-nominated dramedy Up in the Air . With his previous films, director Jason Reitman had always rejected the idea of casting non-American actors in American roles, but Lynskey said that she "tricked" him into giving her the part by avoiding conversation with him during her audition, thus concealing her real accent; Reitman admitted to being "thrilled" by this. In October 2009, she

4640-482: A suburban housewife carrying grim secrets about a plane crash that occurred twenty-five years ago. The series premiered in November 2021, with Rolling Stone feeling that Lynskey was the "standout" among its ensemble cast: "She's always great, but [this] feels like the kind of dark, messy, and charismatic part she's been waiting her whole career to play". In a similar review, The Guardian agreed that "Lynskey does by far

4800-403: A supporting player rather than a lead, Lynskey said it was something she had thought about a lot, and that the "meaty" parts are mostly written for men, or actresses like Meryl Streep . She told a different journalist the same year, "It's been a big issue that I'm not [famous] ... I'll audition for something and then the feedback has been, 'The director wants you, the creative people want you, but

4960-473: A terrific audience surrogate. When she snarls or snaps, I wanted to cheer. I Don't Feel at Home won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2017 Sundance Festival , while Lynskey received a nomination for that year's Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actress . Next, she headlined the controversial independent drama And Then I Go , with Parade ' s Samuel R. Murrian commending her "quality work" as

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5120-477: A treat to see her front-and-center here, carrying an entire movie mainly with her eyes, face and shoulders. A performance like this one can be quite tricky—you're essentially reactive a lot of the time, more of a sponge for the film than the motor driving it along—but Lynskey makes everything active by letting you feel Ruth's emotions and sense her train of thought as she puts various pieces together in her head, drawing correct or wrongheaded conclusions. She's also just

5280-534: A tribute event in celebration of Lynskey's career. Between April and May 2020, Lynskey appeared as Rosemary Thomson in the FX on Hulu period miniseries Mrs. America , a political drama centred on the life and career of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly (played by Cate Blanchett ). Her portrayal of the real-life Thomson, an ambitious champion of Schlafly and staunch opposer of the Equal Rights Amendment ,

5440-623: A turning point in Lynskey's career, with subsequent lead roles in Happy Christmas (2014), The Intervention (2016), and I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017) establishing her as a prominent figure in independent cinema. On television, Lynskey appeared as Rose on the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men (2003–2015). Her other credits include HBO 's Togetherness (2015–2016) and Hulu 's Castle Rock (2018), as well as

5600-705: A wife and mother does not reduce her intelligence. Fearing Joan may regret not pursuing a career, Joan explains it is what she truly wants, Katherine congratulates her, wishing her happiness. Giselle Levy is liberal about sex and has had several lovers, including Bill Dunbar, who she fell in love with. She moves on from him when he and Katherine begin dating. Giselle admires Katherine for encouraging students' independence. She earns Betty's enmity as her marriage falls apart. Katherine's California boyfriend Paul visits unexpectedly and proposes, but Katherine declines. She starts dating Wellesley Italian professor, Bill Dunbar. Charming, he often tells stories about Europe and Italy during

5760-461: Is a form of power-tripping; that she's afraid of intimacy - but any ambiguity is quickly brushed aside to make way for the Julia lovefest. Newell, no hack, tries not to milk the cliches shamelessly, and that may be the movie's final undoing. Lacking the courage of its own vulgarity, ' Mona Lisa Smile ' is as tepid as old bathwater." The college issued an official statement explaining their decision to allow

5920-474: Is a half-length portrait painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci . Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance , it has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, [and] the most parodied work of art in the world." The painting's novel qualities include the subject's enigmatic expression, monumentality of the composition,

6080-404: Is in a remarkable state of preservation." It has never been fully restored, so the current condition is partly due to a variety of conservation treatments the painting has undergone. A detailed analysis in 1933 by Madame de Gironde revealed that earlier restorers had "acted with a great deal of restraint." Nevertheless, applications of varnish made to the painting had darkened even by the end of

6240-510: Is once again superb in her emotionally complex turn". Next, she appeared in the principal role of troubled psychic Molly Strand on the first season of Castle Rock , a supernatural horror series based on characters and settings from the books of Stephen King . It premiered on Hulu in July 2018, with critics pointing out the strong work of the cast: Paste referred to Lynskey as "delicately complex", while Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone felt

6400-473: Is only taking her to the dance as a favor. Connie attempts to leave after one dance but is surprised when he expresses genuine interest. They begin dating and go on holiday, where Charlie hides from family friends. Connie breaks things off after Betty claims he is seeing Deb, the daughter of the couple Charlie avoided on their trip. She says Connie is just a casual fling. However, weeks later, Connie and Charlie reconnect with him insisting he had stopped seeing Deb

6560-402: Is portrayed seated in what appears to be an open loggia with dark pillar bases on either side. Behind her, a vast landscape recedes to icy mountains, winding paths and a distant bridge, giving only the slightest indications of human presence. Leonardo has chosen to place the horizon line not at the neck, as he did with Ginevra de' Benci , but on a level with the eyes, thus linking the figure with

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6720-535: Is recognised as a milestone in New Zealand cinema. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay , while Lynskey was named Best Actress at the 1995 New Zealand Film Awards . She regards working with Jackson and Winslet as an important learning experience. She grew particularly close to Winslet during filming, who later told The Irish Times , "Mel is like the left side of my body. [We] had

6880-643: Is seen with another woman. Betty leaves him but her mother demands she forgive him. She visits Giselle in her dorm, at first attacking her for her promiscuity, then breaking down. Giselle is the only student who knows about Spencer's infidelity, having seen him with an unknown blonde while on her own date, and comforts Betty. Betty regrets maligning Katherine in her editorials. Eventually, Betty files for divorce, and she and Giselle plan to find an apartment in Greenwich Village . When Betty’s mother confronts her at graduation, Betty chastises her and credits Katherine as

7040-524: Is the one in the Louvre today. Others believe that there was only one true Mona Lisa but are divided as to the two aforementioned fates. At some point in the 16th century, a varnish was applied to the painting. It was kept at the Palace of Fontainebleau until Louis XIV moved it to the Palace of Versailles , where it remained until the French Revolution . In 1797, it went on permanent display at

7200-539: Is the recipient of numerous accolades , including three Critics' Choice Awards and nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards . Lynskey made her film debut at age 17 in Peter Jackson 's Heavenly Creatures (1994), earning critical acclaim for her portrayal of murderer Pauline Parker . She later had supporting roles in Ever After (1998), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), and Coyote Ugly (2000). After moving to

7360-517: The Cannes Film Festival and earned Lynskey a Best Actress nomination at that year's New Zealand Film Awards . Variety ' s David Stratton felt that her work in Snakeskin , where she played Alice, a free-spirited drifter who embarks on a dangerous road trip, was "excellent". In 2002, Lynskey reteamed with director Andy Tennant —whom she previously worked with on Ever After —to play

7520-506: The Chicago Reader shared this negative assessment, writing "Part of the problem is simply that Mona Lisa Smile is a Hollywood film, and Hollywood isn't good at depicting the life of the mind... And Julia Roberts is no help--you either like her or you don't, but either way it has little to do with talent. She's not so much an actor as a vessel for earnest reactions. The fact is... It's easier to take on an extremely black-and-white version of

7680-550: The Lombardy region of northern Italy ." Of Leonardo da Vinci's works , the Mona Lisa is the only portrait whose authenticity has never been seriously questioned, and one of four works—the others being Saint Jerome in the Wilderness , Adoration of the Magi and The Last Supper —whose attribution has avoided controversy. He had begun working on a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo ,

7840-490: The Louvre representative, stated "Leonardo da Vinci was painting, in 1503, the portrait of a Florentine lady by the name of Lisa del Giocondo. About this we are now certain. Unfortunately, we cannot be absolutely certain that this portrait of Lisa del Giocondo is the painting of the Louvre." The catalogue raisonné Leonardo da Vinci (2019) confirms that the painting probably depicts Lisa del Giocondo, with Isabella d'Este being

8000-454: The Mona Lisa ' s undeniable popularity. Because of the painting's overwhelming stature, Dadaists and Surrealists often produce modifications and caricatures . In 1883, Le rire, an image of a Mona Lisa smoking a pipe, by Sapeck (Eugène Bataille), was shown at the " Incoherents " show in Paris. In 1919, Marcel Duchamp , one of the most influential modern artists, created L.H.O.O.Q. ,

8160-518: The Mona Lisa after Leonardo's death in 1519, and it is now the property of the French Republic. It has normally been on display at the Louvre in Paris since 1797. The painting's global fame and popularity partly stem from its 1911 theft by Vincenzo Peruggia , who attributed his actions to Italian patriotism—a belief it should belong to Italy. The theft and subsequent recovery in 1914 generated unprecedented publicity for an art theft , and led to

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8320-578: The Mona Lisa and other works. The Mona Lisa bears a strong resemblance to many Renaissance depictions of the Virgin Mary , who was at that time seen as an ideal for womanhood. The woman sits markedly upright in a "pozzetto" armchair with her arms folded, a sign of her reserved posture. Her gaze is fixed on the observer. The woman appears alive to an unusual extent, which Leonardo achieved by his method of not drawing outlines. The soft blending ( sfumato ) creates an ambiguous mood "mainly in two features:

8480-407: The Mona Lisa as imbued with a sense of mystery and romance . In 1859, Théophile Gautier wrote that the Mona Lisa was a "sphinx of beauty who smiles so mysteriously" and that "Beneath the form expressed one feels a thought that is vague, infinite, inexpressible. One is moved, troubled ... repressed desires, hopes that drive one to despair, stir painfully." Walter Pater 's essay of 1869 described

8640-412: The Mona Lisa . The edges of the painting have been trimmed at least once in its history to fit the picture into various frames, but no part of the original paint layer has been trimmed. The first and most extensive recorded cleaning, revarnishing, and touch-up of the Mona Lisa was an 1809 wash and revarnishing undertaken by Jean-Marie Hooghstoel, who was responsible for the restoration of paintings for

8800-467: The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress , in 2022 and 2023, respectively. In the true crime miniseries Candy , Lynskey co-starred as Betty Gore, a Texan schoolteacher battling postpartum depression who is killed by her husband's lover (played by Jessica Biel ). Airing on Hulu in May 2022, the show's acting was widely praised: Entertainment Weekly felt that Lynskey "captures

8960-493: The RiverRun International Film Festival . Her first film project that year was Happy Christmas (2014), where she played Kelly, a creatively bored novelist whose passion for writing is rekindled when her disruptive sister-in-law comes to visit. Christmas drew attention for being almost entirely improvised , with Stephen Holden of The New York Times stating, "The performances [are] so natural that

9120-481: The U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Individual Performance at the Sundance Film Festival . In his review for IndieWire , Russ Fischer pointed out Lynskey's "tremendously good comic timing", while Ethan Anderton of /Film noted, "Lynskey is the standout, delivering a performance that is genuine, funny and touching all at the same time". The film was the directorial debut of Clea DuVall , who wrote

9280-625: The Uffizi Gallery in Florence . It was exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery for over two weeks and returned to the Louvre on 4 January 1914. Peruggia served six months in prison for the crime and was hailed for his patriotism in Italy. A year after the theft, Saturday Evening Post journalist Karl Decker wrote that he met an alleged accomplice named Eduardo de Valfierno , who claimed to have masterminded

9440-415: The most highly-valued painting in the world. The insurance was not purchased; instead, more was spent on security. Melanie Lynskey Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( / ˈ l ɪ n s k i / LIN -skee ; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American accents, she works predominantly in independent films and television. She

9600-409: The 16th century, and an aggressive 1809 cleaning and revarnishing removed some of the uppermost portion of the paint layer, resulting in a washed-out appearance to the face of the figure. Despite the treatments, the Mona Lisa has been well cared for throughout its history, and although the panel's warping caused the curators "some worry", the 2004–05 conservation team was optimistic about the future of

9760-562: The Air [and was] wonderful in all three. In Win Win she gives a very different kind of performance and is even better". In 2012, Lynskey appeared briefly as the flirtatious Karen in doomsday romantic comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World , and had a key role as Aunt Helen, the sexually abusive relative of the teenage protagonist, in coming-of-age drama The Perks of Being a Wallflower . Due to

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9920-590: The French government lent it to the United States to be displayed in New York City and Washington, D.C. It was shipped on the new ocean liner SS France . In New York, an estimated 1.7 million people queued "in order to cast a glance at the Mona Lisa for 20 seconds or so." While exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art , the painting was nearly drenched in water because of a faulty sprinkler, but

10080-408: The Louvre filed a complaint. On 28 January 2024, two attackers from the environmentalist group Riposte Alimentaire (Food Retaliation) threw soup at the painting's protective glass, demanding the right to "healthy and sustainable food" and criticizing the contemporary state of agriculture. In the early 21st century, French scientist Pascal Cotte hypothesized a hidden portrait underneath the surface of

10240-581: The Louvre. After the French Revolution, the painting was moved to the Louvre, but spent a brief period in the bedroom of Napoleon (d. 1821) in the Tuileries Palace . The Mona Lisa was not widely known outside the art world, but in the 1860s, a portion of the French intelligentsia began to hail it as a masterwork of Renaissance painting. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871),

10400-529: The United States, Lynskey became known as a character actress through parts in Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Shattered Glass (2003), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Away We Go , Up in the Air , The Informant! (all 2009), Win Win (2011), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), and Don't Look Up (2021). Her starring role as a depressed divorcee in Hello I Must Be Going (2012) proved to be

10560-529: The actors melt into their characters"; while other critics singled out Lynskey as a highlight. She then had a supporting role in David Wain 's satirical romcom They Came Together , and played the female leads in We'll Never Have Paris —the directorial debut of Simon Helberg —and Angus MacLachlan 's Goodbye to All That . In his review of Goodbye , Bilge Ebiri said that Lynskey's portrayal of frustrated wife Annie

10720-798: The basement under the museum's square courtyard. Due to the renovation, visitors will be able to pass directly to the painting, which will reduce queues at the Louvre . The Mona Lisa began influencing contemporary Florentine painting even before its completion. Raphael , who had been to Leonardo's workshop several times, promptly used elements of the portrait's composition and format in several of his works, such as Young Woman with Unicorn ( c.  1506 ), and Portrait of Maddalena Doni ( c.  1506 ). Later paintings by Raphael, such as La velata (1515–16) and Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione ( c.  1514–15 ), continued to borrow from Leonardo's painting. Zollner states that "None of Leonardo's works would exert more influence upon

10880-483: The best film acting of the early 2010s. The following year, Lynskey took on a lead role in The Big Ask , an independent black comedy. Her work as Hannah was praised, with Brian Tallerico stating in his review for RogerEbert.com , "[she] so often finds ways to elevate lackluster screenwriting, and does so again here. She's the best thing about the movie". In April 2014, Lynskey was named an Emerging Master honouree at

11040-408: The best-known source of information on the provenance of the work and identity of the sitter. Leonardo's assistant Salaì , at his death in 1524, owned a portrait which in his personal papers was named la Gioconda , a painting bequeathed to him by Leonardo. That Leonardo painted such a work, and its date, were confirmed in 2005 when a scholar at Heidelberg University discovered a marginal note in

11200-430: The birth of their second son, Andrea. The Italian name for the painting, La Gioconda , means 'jocund' ('happy' or 'jovial') or, literally, 'the jocund one', a pun on the feminine form of Lisa's married name, Giocondo. In French, the title La Joconde has the same meaning. Vasari's account of the Mona Lisa comes from his biography of Leonardo published in 1550, 31 years after the artist's death. It has long been

11360-427: The character of Annie, an uptight alcoholic, specifically for Lynskey. She sought the help of a therapist before the film went into production to prepare herself for working with DuVall, a close friend of several years: "I didn't want anything to happen to our friendship and a big challenge was being able to stick up for myself and my perspective in regard to the script and this character". Also that year, she starred in

11520-543: The concerned parent of a troubled high schooler. That same year, she received a Golden Nymph nomination for starring as Zara Skelton, a headstrong criminal defence lawyer, in the Australian miniseries Sunshine ; played the mother of a teenage witch in The Changeover , a fantasy thriller shot in New Zealand; and appeared as a flustered housewife—frantically trying to conceal her husband's corpse after finding him dead—in

11680-628: The corners of the mouth, and the corners of the eyes". The depiction of the sitter in three-quarter profile is similar to late 15th-century works by Lorenzo di Credi and Agnolo di Domenico del Mazziere . Zöllner notes that the sitter's general position can be traced back to Flemish models and that "in particular the vertical slices of columns at both sides of the panel had precedents in Flemish portraiture." Woods-Marsden cites Hans Memling 's portrait of Benedetto Portinari (1487) or Italian imitations such as Sebastiano Mainardi's pendant portraits for

11840-431: The damage to Mona Lisa ' s left elbow with watercolour. In 1977, a new insect infestation was discovered in the back of the panel as a result of crosspieces installed to keep the painting from warping. This was treated on the spot with carbon tetrachloride , and later with an ethylene oxide treatment. In 1985, the spot was again treated with carbon tetrachloride as a preventive measure. On 6 April 2005—following

12000-501: The entire textbook and syllabus, so she introduces modern art and encourages discussion about what good art is. Katherine also challenges her students to achieve more than marriage. Outspoken conservative Betty Warren writes editorials for the college paper, and insists that a universal standard exists for what is good art. She attacks Katherine for advocating that women seek careers in addition to marriage, and exposes campus nurse and lesbian Amanda Armstrong for supplying contraception to

12160-466: The evolution of the genre than the Mona Lisa . It became the definitive example of the Renaissance portrait and perhaps for this reason is seen not just as the likeness of a real person, but also as the embodiment of an ideal." Where earlier critics such as Vasari in the 16th century and André Félibien in the 17th praised the picture for its realism , by the mid-19th century, writers began to regard

12320-421: The exact relationship in terms of communication and love that Pauline and Juliet had. From the minute we saw each other". Despite the film's success, its creators tried to discourage Lynskey from pursuing a full-time acting career, as it was not thought to be realistic. She later revealed, "[People were] looking out for me ... 'Thanks for doing this movie for us, and now be sure that you go to university and get

12480-403: The eyebrows in detail. In 2007, French engineer Pascal Cotte announced that his ultra-high resolution scans of the painting provide evidence that Mona Lisa was originally painted with eyelashes and eyebrows, but that these had gradually disappeared over time, perhaps as a result of overcleaning. Cotte discovered that the painting had been reworked several times, with changes made to the size of

12640-611: The face and the direction of gaze. He also found that in one layer the subject was depicted wearing numerous hairpins and a headdress adorned with pearls which was later scrubbed out and overpainted. There has been much speculation regarding the painting's model and landscape. For example, Leonardo probably painted his model faithfully since her beauty is not seen as being among the best, "even when measured by late quattrocento (15th century) or even twenty-first century standards." Some historians in Eastern art, such as Yukio Yashiro , argue that

12800-520: The film had the potential to resonate on a thousand different levels". In his review for the Los Angeles Times , Kenneth Turan wrote: If you know the name Melanie Lynskey, you're already planning to see her in Hello I Must Be Going . If you don't, this film will have you making up for lost time. That's how good an actress she is ... Though there is something of the sad sack about [Amy], Lynskey inhabits

12960-464: The film in September that year, Soderbergh told the Los Angeles Times : She is so watchable. You never quite know what you're going to get, you just know it's going to be good. Her rhythms are really unusual, like her cadence and her reaction times to things, and the way [she] lays out a sentence. It's just really, really interesting. While making the film, Soderbergh discouraged Lynskey from contacting

13120-555: The film to shoot on campus. In a message to Wellesley alumnae concerning the film, Wellesley College president Diana Chapman Walsh expressed regret about some of the reactions it generated, given that many alumnae from the 1950s felt that the film's portrayal of Wellesley was inaccurate. Mona Lisa The Mona Lisa ( / ˌ m oʊ n ə ˈ l iː s ə / MOH -nə LEE -sə ; Italian : la Gioconda [la dʒoˈkonda] or Monna Lisa [ˈmɔnna ˈliːza] ; French : la Joconde [la ʒɔkɔ̃d] )

13280-646: The final years of his life, post-1513. Other academics argue that, given the historical documentation, Leonardo would have painted the work from 1513. According to Vasari, "after he had lingered over it four years, [he] left it unfinished". In 1516, Leonardo was invited by King Francis I to work at the Clos Lucé near the Château d'Amboise ; it is believed that he took the Mona Lisa with him and continued to work on it after he moved to France. Art historian Carmen C. Bambach has concluded that Leonardo probably continued refining

13440-468: The galleries of the Musée Napoléon . The work involved cleaning with spirits, touch-ups of colour, and revarnishing the painting. In 1906, Louvre restorer Eugène Denizard performed watercolour retouches on areas of the paint layer disturbed by the crack in the panel. Denizard also retouched the edges of the picture with varnish to mask areas that had been covered initially by an older frame. In 1913, when

13600-408: The glass enclosure. In both cases, the painting was undamaged. On 29 May 2022, a male activist, disguised as a woman in a wheelchair, threw cake at the protective glass covering the painting in an apparent attempt to raise awareness for climate change . The painting was not damaged. The man was arrested and placed in psychiatric care in the police headquarters. An investigation was opened after

13760-553: The horror film XX . In their review of the latter, Time said of Lynskey, "terrific as always, [she] brings a grace note of pathos to the wicked proceedings". In Sadie (2018), Lynskey starred as Rae, a woman bringing up her daughter in the confines of a trailer park while her husband serves in the military. Variety described her work in the drama as "compelling", while Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter stated, "It's no surprise that Lynskey, who has quietly [been] establishing herself as one of indie cinema's finest actors,

13920-525: The independent film world. I've made films that have cost $ 50,000 for the entire film. If you're willing to work like that, you get chances to do really creative, interesting stuff". Lynskey is often complimented on her ability to perform an American accent. She attributes this to staying with Joss Whedon when she first moved to Los Angeles: "When I came here, I stayed in his guest bedroom ... I watched movie after movie and learned American accents". Tim Blake Nelson recalled that when she auditioned for

14080-400: The intense emotion involved in recreating her character's murder, saying she and Biel took great care to perfect the sequence's staging and choreography. She went on to receive Critics' Choice and Satellite Award nominations for her portrayal of Gore. On HBO's The Last of Us , an adaptation of the action-adventure video game , Lynskey appeared in the guest role of Kathleen Coghlan ,

14240-568: The jury for the U.S. Narrative Competition at the 2017 Tribeca Festival . In June 2018, she was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . In October 2023, Lynskey narrated Devin Scillian 's Memoirs of a Hamster for Storyline Online, a branch of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation that specialises in child literacy. Lynskey was selected as one of the judges for

14400-609: The landscape and emphasizing the mysterious nature of the painting. The bridge in the background was identified by Silvano Vincenti as the four-arched Romito di Laterina bridge from Etruscan - Roman times near Laterina , Arezzo over the Arno river . Other bridges with similar arches suggested as possible locations had more arches. Some observers find similarities with the Azzone Visconti Bridge . Mona Lisa has no clearly visible eyebrows or eyelashes, although Vasari describes

14560-509: The landscape in the background of the picture was influenced by Chinese paintings , but this thesis has been contested for lack of clear evidence. Research in 2003 by Professor Margaret Livingstone of Harvard University said that Mona Lisa's smile disappears when observed with direct vision, known as foveal . Because of the way the human eye processes visual information, it is less suited to pick up shadows directly; however, peripheral vision can pick up shadows well. Research in 2008 by

14720-422: The largest ever single exhibit of Leonardo's works from 24 October 2019 to 24 February 2020. The Mona Lisa was not included because it is in such great demand among visitors to the museum; the painting remained on display in its gallery. In 2024, it was decided to place the panel in a separate room. This change will require significant construction changes, including a new entrance to the Louvre and two rooms in

14880-506: The miniseries Mrs. America (2020) and Candy (2022). Since 2021, she has played Shauna on Showtime 's Yellowjackets , winning the 2022 Critics' Choice Award for Best Actress and being nominated twice for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress (2022, 2023). She received a further Emmy nomination ( Guest Actress , 2023) for her work on HBO's The Last of Us . Lynskey is married to actor Jason Ritter , with whom she has

15040-509: The model of the Mona Lisa , by October 1503. It is believed by some that the Mona Lisa was begun in 1503 or 1504 in Florence. Although the Louvre states that it was "doubtless painted between 1503 and 1506", art historian Martin Kemp says that there are some difficulties in confirming the dates with certainty. Alessandro Vezzosi believes that the painting is characteristic of Leonardo's style in

15200-743: The moment her character performs a grief-stricken pole dance in front of her husband to be particularly poignant; writing for The Boston Globe , Wesley Morris stated, "Lynskey dramatizes sadness and dysfunction with quiet, moving physicality. [Her] whole life is there in her long face and drooping limbs. It's the best performance in the movie". She co-starred that same year as Ginger, the foolishly devoted wife of thieving whistleblower Mark Whitacre (played by Matt Damon ), in Steven Soderbergh 's darkly comedic biopic The Informant! . Writing for The Independent , Geoffrey Macnab felt that Lynskey provided "sterling support" to Damon. During promotion of

15360-482: The most emotional heavy lifting of the series". She admitted it was Shauna's "internalized rage" that attracted her to the role, as well as "a real dark streak [that I] loved and was also terrified of". For her work on Yellowjackets , Lynskey won Best Actress in a Drama Series at the 27th Critics' Choice Awards , where her acceptance speech drew attention for paying tribute to her daughter's nanny. Her subsequent accolades for playing Shauna include two nominations for

15520-434: The most salient question from this film - can women bake their cake and eat it too? - than try to answer it in the present." David Ansen of Newsweek wrote, "What drew the usually astute Mike Newell (' Four Weddings and a Funeral ', ' Donnie Brasco ') to this project? There are hints that the script (credited to Mark Rosenthal and Lawrence Konner) may once have had more shadings - a suggestion that Katherine's idealism

15680-452: The museum had closed. Peruggia was an Italian patriot who believed that Leonardo's painting should have been returned to an Italian museum. Peruggia may have been motivated by an associate whose copies of the original would significantly rise in value after the painting's theft. After having kept the Mona Lisa in his apartment for two years, Peruggia grew impatient and was caught when he attempted to sell it to Giovanni Poggi , director of

15840-717: The nature of her character in Perks , she said that agreeing to take on the part had been a difficult decision. Her next role was that of love interest Sally in the same year's Putzel , an independent romcom. In their critique of the film, the Tallahassee Democrat stated that Lynskey "steals the show ... [ Putzel ] sparks to life whenever [she] arrives on the screen", while Redefine described her as "delightful" and "deftly believable". Lynskey's portrayal of Amy Minsky in Hello I Must Be Going (2012), an unemployed divorcee who finds herself living back at home with her parents,

16000-405: The nature of the material, Lynskey described the filming experience as "heavy", but said she felt it was "important to tell as many stories as we can from this period in history". Lynskey described herself as a character actress in the early stages of her career, but has since renounced the term. Regarding her acting technique, Lynskey has said, "I don't have any [professional] training ... so

16160-557: The one-off BBC Two comedy Our Ex-Wife , which was followed by prominent roles in the independent features Rainbow Time , Little Boxes , and The Great & the Small . Variety 's Joe Leydon described her work in the latter—where she played Margaret, a schoolteacher grieving the loss of her only son—as "quietly devastating". Lynskey's performance in the Netflix crime thriller I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

16320-409: The only one who supported her, vowing to live her own life. Despite disapproving of Katherine's progressive teaching methods, Wellesley administrators invite her to return the next year as her course is extremely popular under strict conditions. Katherine resigns, deciding to explore Europe instead. Betty dedicates her last editorial to her, admiring her for living by example and challenging them to see

16480-663: The only plausible alternative. Scholars have developed several alternative views , arguing that Lisa del Giocondo was the subject of a different portrait, and identifying at least four other paintings referred to by Vasari as the Mona Lisa . Several other people have been proposed as the subject of the painting, including Isabella of Aragon , Cecilia Gallerani , Costanza d'Avalos, Duchess of Francavilla , Pacifica Brandano/Brandino, Isabella Gualanda, Caterina Sforza , Bianca Giovanna Sforza , Salaì, and even Leonardo himself. Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud theorized that Leonardo imparted an approving smile from his mother, Caterina, onto

16640-400: The only thing I have to go on is my own instinct. So if a director gives me a note that doesn't feel like it's in line with my instinct, it's very hard for me to do something that ... feels like a lie. So, I'll argue it, and I can get kind of feisty because I feel it in my body, I know what is right". Asked by a journalist in 2012 about how she felt being cast—up to that point in her career—as

16800-572: The painting , which is known in English as Mona Lisa , is based on the presumption that it depicts Lisa del Giocondo , although her likeness is uncertain. Renaissance art historian Giorgio Vasari wrote that " Leonardo undertook to paint, for Francesco del Giocondo, the portrait of Mona Lisa, his wife." Monna in Italian is a polite form of address originating as ma donna —similar to Ma'am , Madam , or my lady in English. This became madonna , and its contraction monna . The title of

16960-477: The painting from any further attacks. Subsequently, on 21 April 1974, while the painting was on display at the Tokyo National Museum , a woman sprayed it with red paint as a protest against that museum's failure to provide access for disabled people. On 2 August 2009, a Russian woman, distraught over being denied French citizenship, threw a ceramic teacup purchased at the Louvre; the vessel shattered against

17120-427: The painting has been temporarily moved to accommodate renovations to the Louvre on three occasions: between 1992 and 1995, from 2001 to 2005, and again in 2019. A new queuing system introduced in 2019 reduces the amount of time museum visitors have to wait in line to see the painting. After going through the queue, a group has about 30 seconds to see the painting. On 30 December 1956, Bolivian Ugo Ungaza Villegas threw

17280-526: The painting was moved from the Louvre to the Brest Arsenal . In 1911, the painting was still not popular among the lay-public. On 21 August 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre. The painting was first reported missing the next day by painter Louis Béroud . After some confusion as to whether the painting was being photographed somewhere, the Louvre was closed for a week for investigation. French poet Guillaume Apollinaire came under suspicion and

17440-404: The painting was recovered after its theft, Denizard was again called upon to work on the Mona Lisa . Denizard was directed to clean the picture without solvent and to lightly touch up several scratches on the painting with watercolour. In 1952, the varnish layer over the background in the painting was evened out. After the second 1956 attack, restorer Jean-Gabriel Goulinat was directed to touch up

17600-485: The painting's bullet-proof glass case protected it. In 1974, the painting was exhibited in Tokyo and Moscow. In 2014, 9.3 million people visited the Louvre. Former director Henri Loyrette reckoned that "80 percent of the people only want to see the Mona Lisa ." Before the 1962–1963 tour, the painting was assessed for insurance at $ 100 million (equivalent to $ 770 million in 2023), making it, in practice,

17760-423: The painting's visit to the United States in 1963. The French urban artist known pseudonymously as Invader has created versions of the Mona Lisa on city walls in Paris and Tokyo using a mosaic style. A 2014 New Yorker magazine cartoon parodies the supposed enigma of the Mona Lisa smile in an animation showing progressively more maniacal smiles. Today, the Mona Lisa is considered the most famous painting in

17920-523: The painting, though traditionally spelled Mona in English, is spelled in Italian as Monna Lisa ( mona being a vulgarity in Italian), but this is rare in English. Lisa del Giocondo was a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany , and the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. The painting is thought to have been commissioned for their new home, and to celebrate

18080-468: The painting. Both Vasari and Gian Paolo Lomazzo describe the subject as smiling, unlike the subject in Cotte's supposed portrait. In 2020, Cotte published a study alleging that the painting has an underdrawing , transferred from a preparatory drawing via the spolvero technique. The Mona Lisa has survived for more than 500 years, and an international commission convened in 1952 noted that "the picture

18240-449: The painting. He analysed the painting in the Louvre with reflective light technology beginning in 2004, and produced circumstantial evidence for his theory. Cotte admits that his investigation was carried out only in support of his hypotheses and should not be considered as definitive proof. The underlying portrait appears to be of a model looking to the side, and lacks flanking columns, but does not fit with historical descriptions of

18400-552: The part of Colleen in Leaves of Grass , "She came in and auditioned for me and then ... opened [her] mouth and started talking in a New Zealand accent and I just couldn't believe it, because her south-eastern Oklahoma accent was so spot on, and it's a very specific accent". Lynskey is known for her improvisation skills, which she attributes to classes she attended in her youth. She regularly employs dreamwork to help her get into character, as well music: "Every movie I've done I have

18560-441: The picture for an exhibit to honour the anniversary of Leonardo's 500th birthday, the Mona Lisa was fitted in 1951 with a flexible oak frame with beech crosspieces . This flexible frame, which is used in addition to the decorative frame, exerts pressure on the panel to keep it from warping further. In 1970, the beech crosspieces were switched to maple after it was found that the beechwood had been infested with insects. In 2004–05,

18720-558: The pregnant girlfriend of a cannabis farmer in Tim Blake Nelson 's Leaves of Grass , with RogerEbert.com believing her performance to be one of the key contributors to the black comedy's "quirky charm". Nelson said of her casting, "Melanie came in and read for me and, though she's from New Zealand, she was by far the most credible version of an Oklahoma girl I saw. And I probably auditioned 50 actresses for that role". Next, she received positive notices for her work as Julie Bingham,

18880-531: The previous summer and had only begun seeing his current girlfriend after Connie cut contact with him. Connie tearfully confronts Betty for lying and being hurtful, asking why Betty couldn't let her be happy. Later, Connie breaks into Charlie's dorm to ask for another chance and they kiss, rekindling their relationship. Joan Brandwyn considers studying law at Yale Law School , so Katherine encourages her to apply. Although accepted, she declines admission to instead marry Tom Donegal, telling Katherine that choosing to be

19040-422: The project drawing attention for its "breakthrough" use of crowdfunding . Her next film was the period fairytale romance Ever After (1998), a feminist reimagining of Cinderella that was shot in the south of France; Lynskey played Drew Barrymore 's "charming and funny" stepsister, Jacqueline De Ghent. She attributes her growth in self-confidence around this time, as well as the advancement of her career, to

19200-633: The publication of many cultural depictions such as the 1915 opera Mona Lisa , two early 1930s films ( The Theft of the Mona Lisa and Arsène Lupin ), and the song " Mona Lisa " recorded by Nat King Cole —one of the most successful songs of the 1950s. The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable paintings in the world. It holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known painting insurance valuation in history at US$ 100 million in 1962, equivalent to $ 1 billion as of 2023 . The title of

19360-474: The real Ginger Whitacre, as he wanted Lynskey to reach her own conclusion about whether she had been complicit in her husband's crimes. "I decided she had no idea what was going on", she later said. "She was trusting, she [thought her job was] to stay in the house and take care of the kids ... She wasn't asking too many questions". Lynskey counts her time working on The Informant! as one of her favourite professional experiences. Also in 2009, Lynskey appeared as

19520-445: The role of George Aaronow, originally portrayed by Alan Arkin . Between 2014 and 2016, Lynskey featured on several occasions as part of The Thrilling Adventure Hour , a staged podcast in the style of old-time radio, which was performed monthly in Los Angeles. In 2015, she starred in the music video for the song "Waiting on Love" by Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers , alongside her then-boyfriend, Jason Ritter . Lynskey served on

19680-520: The role so completely, brings such exquisite naturalness to her performance, that she becomes someone we root for unreservedly. In a similar appraisal, USA Today noted that "Lynskey brings dimension and intelligence" and a "sympathetic blend of humor [and] dignity to the role". The performance earned her a nomination for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor , while Screen Rant placed it at #6 in their rundown of

19840-548: The role". Lynskey turned 16 during the making of Creatures and was 17 by the time of its release in 1994. Critics were effusive about the performances, especially those of Lynskey and her co-star, Kate Winslet . Roger Ebert complimented the film's director, Peter Jackson , on picking "the right two actresses", noting that "There is a way Lynskey has of looking up from beneath glowering eyebrows that lets you know her insides are churning"; while Richard Corliss wrote in his review for Time : The film's serendipitous stroke

20000-548: The romantic drama Show of Hands , earning strong notices and a Best Actress nomination at the Qantas Film Awards for playing Jess, a single parent who enters a gruelling endurance competition to win a car. In the Sam Mendes -directed dramedy Away We Go (2009), Lynskey appeared as Munch, an adoptive mother dealing with the effects of repeated pregnancy loss. The performance was roundly praised, with critics finding

20160-502: The sadness and seething resentment of a woman stifled by the confines of stay-at-home motherhood", while RogerEbert.com ' s Brian Tallerico said, "She does so much with just a sigh or defeated body language". Writing for the Chicago Sun-Times , Richard Roeper believed that the real Gore was "clearly depressed and in need of help" and that "through Lynskey's performance, we find that tragic and heartbreaking". Lynskey spoke of

20320-496: The same year for her portrayal of drug addict Cindy Timmons in Tom McCarthy 's dramedy Win Win . Writing for The Hollywood Reporter , David Rooney noted that Lynskey brought "welcome soft shadings to the story's disruptive element", while Mary Pols stated in her review for Time , "[Lynskey] has become one of the most reliably intriguing supporting actresses in film ... she had [parts in] Away We Go , The Informant! and Up in

20480-557: The show was "the latest example of how much humanity and grounding [Lynskey] can bring to the most surreal and macabre of stories – it's a tradition that goes back to when she was a teenager in Heavenly Creatures ". Rock was renewed for a second season but, due to the series' anthological narrative, it featured a different set of actors. Earlier that same year, the Seattle International Film Festival hosted

20640-491: The sitter as "older than the rocks among which she sits; like the vampire, she has been dead many times, and learned the secrets of the grave; and has been a diver in the deep seas, and keeps their fallen day about her." By the early 20th century, some critics started to feel the painting had become a repository for subjective exegeses and theories. Upon the painting's theft in 1911, Renaissance historian Bernard Berenson admitted that it had "simply become an incubus, and [he]

20800-482: The sketch may be after another Leonardo portrait of the same subject. The record of an October 1517 visit by Louis d'Aragon states that the Mona Lisa was executed for the deceased Giuliano de' Medici , Leonardo's steward at Belvedere, Vienna , between 1513 and 1516 —but this was likely an error. According to Vasari, the painting was created for the model's husband, Francesco del Giocondo. A number of experts have argued that Leonardo made two versions (because of

20960-526: The students, resulting in her termination. Betty is eager to marry her fiancé Spencer and expects the traditional married-student exemptions; however, Katherine insists she will grade her based on merit and expects her to complete all assignments and tests. When her married life does not go smoothly, she begins taking out her frustrations on the other girls in the class, particularly Connie and Giselle. Betty often ridicules Connie Baker, insisting her cousin Charlie

21120-482: The studio is saying no' ... but I understand. People are investing a lot of money and they want somewhat of a guarantee". She has subsequently taken on leading roles in numerous independent films and been labelled an "indie queen". Speaking in 2017 about taking risks in her film work, Lynskey said, "I want to tell stories about women who are interesting and complicated and not like people you've seen before ... There aren't that many opportunities [to do that] except in

21280-492: The subtle modelling of forms, and the atmospheric illusionism. The painting has been traditionally considered to depict the Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo . It is painted in oil on a white poplar panel . Leonardo never gave the painting to the Giocondo family. It was believed to have been painted between 1503 and 1506; however, Leonardo may have continued working on it as late as 1517. King Francis I of France acquired

21440-405: The support and advice she received from Barrymore and their co-star, Anjelica Huston , during the making of After . Lynskey appeared in four features in 1999: teen comedy Detroit Rock City , period drama The Cherry Orchard , British gangster drama Shooters , and the cult hit satire But I'm a Cheerleader —considered to be one of the foremost examples of LGBT cinema —where she played

21600-482: The temperature is maintained between 18 °C (64 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F). To compensate for fluctuations in relative humidity, the case is supplemented with a bed of silica gel treated to provide 55% relative humidity. Because the Mona Lisa ' s poplar support expands and contracts with changes in humidity, the picture has experienced some warping. In response to warping and swelling experienced during its storage during World War II, and to prepare

21760-690: The theft. Forger Yves Chaudron was to have created six copies of the painting to sell in the US while concealing the location of the original. Decker published this account of the theft in 1932. During World War II , it was again removed from the Louvre and taken first to the Château d'Amboise, then to the Loc-Dieu Abbey and Château de Chambord , then finally to the Musée Ingres in Montauban . In recent decades,

21920-429: The thickness of the panel. This intervention was skilfully executed, and successfully stabilized the crack. Sometime between 1888 and 1905, or perhaps during the picture's theft, the upper brace fell out. A later restorer glued and lined the resulting socket and crack with cloth. The picture is kept under strict, climate-controlled conditions in its bulletproof glass case. The humidity is maintained at 50% ±10%, and

22080-565: The time"—stood out for him as "an all-time cold-blooded bad guy quote, delivered with exhausted gravity by the great Melanie Lynskey". The performance earned her a nomination for that year's Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series . In the Peacock historical drama series The Tattooist of Auschwitz , Lynskey portrayed New Zealand social worker Heather Morris , a fledgling novelist who befriends an elderly Holocaust survivor (played by Harvey Keitel ) and pitches him her idea for

22240-694: The uncertainty concerning its dating and commissioner, as well as its fate following Leonardo's death in 1519, and the difference of details in Raphael's sketch—which may be explained by the possibility that he made the sketch from memory). The hypothetical first portrait, displaying prominent columns, would have been commissioned by Giocondo c.  1503 , and left unfinished in Leonardo's pupil and assistant Salaì's possession until his death in 1524. The second, commissioned by Giuliano de' Medici c.  1513 , would have been sold by Salaì to Francis I in 1518 and

22400-443: The use of a loggia , which has the effect of mediating between the sitter and the distant landscape, a feature missing from Leonardo's earlier portrait of Ginevra de' Benci . The painting was one of the first Italian portraits to depict the sitter in front of an imaginary landscape, although some scholars favour a realistic description, and Leonardo was one of the first painters to use aerial perspective . The enigmatic woman

22560-493: The war. He also has had affairs with students, including Giselle, so Katherine insists he stop. Katherine later learns that, contrary to his stories, Bill was stationed at the Army Languages Center on Long Island. She breaks up with him and Bill tells her that despite what she thinks, she did not come to Wellesley to help the students find their way, but rather find her own path. Betty's marriage falls apart once Spencer

22720-480: The words to say and not being myself for a minute. It just felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders". After graduating high school, Lynskey studied for a year-and-a-half at Victoria University of Wellington , majoring in English literature, but dropped out to focus on her film career. Lynskey's professional debut came at age 15 with a starring role in Heavenly Creatures , a psychological drama based on

22880-576: The work until 1516 or 1517. Leonardo's right hand was paralytic c.  1517 , which may indicate why he left the Mona Lisa unfinished. Circa 1505, Raphael executed a pen-and-ink sketch, in which the columns flanking the subject are more apparent. Experts universally agree that it is based on Leonardo's portrait. Other later copies of the Mona Lisa , such as those in the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design and The Walters Art Museum , also display large flanking columns. As

23040-414: The work. At some point, the Mona Lisa was removed from its original frame. The unconstrained poplar panel warped freely with changes in humidity, and as a result, a crack developed near the top of the panel, extending down to the hairline of the figure. In the mid-18th century to early 19th century, two butterfly-shaped walnut braces were inserted into the back of the panel to a depth of about one third

23200-729: The world through new eyes. As she leaves in a taxi, the students follow on their bikes to say goodbye. Melanie Lynskey auditioned for the roles of Connie and Giselle. In its first weekend, Mona Lisa Smile opened at number two at the U.S. box office, earning US$ 11,528,498 behind The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King . By the end of its run, while the film had grossed a respectable $ 141,337,989 worldwide, its U.S. domestic gross did not meet its $ 65 million budget, falling short at $ 63,860,942. Mona Lisa Smile received mixed to negative reviews from film critics. On Rotten Tomatoes , it has

23360-460: The world, a destination painting , but until the 20th century, it was one among many highly regarded artworks. Once part of King Francis I of France 's collection, the Mona Lisa was among the first artworks to be exhibited in the Louvre, which became a national museum after the French Revolution. Leonardo began to be revered as a genius, and the painting's popularity grew in the mid-19th century when French intelligentsia praised it as mysterious and

23520-466: Was "fantastic", while Variety described her as "heartbreaking ... This is what falling out of love looks like. It's not screaming matches and altercations; it's apathy and indifference". Towards the end of 2014, she provided the voice of Beatrice, an ill-tempered bluebird, for Cartoon Network 's Over the Garden Wall . In their appraisal of the animated miniseries, which has since been recognised as

23680-431: Was Lynskey's second film project that year: her portrayal of June Mindy, Leonardo DiCaprio 's put-upon wife, was described as "terrific" by The Hollywood Reporter , while IndieWire called her "low-key brilliant" and felt she brought a "clear-headed" presence to the narrative. She said that working on Up and bonding with DiCaprio had been "beautiful". On Showtime 's Yellowjackets , Lynskey plays Shauna Sadecki ,

23840-477: Was a "dream" job for Lynskey, who referred to its co-writer and director, Jay Duplass , as her "creative soulmate". The show's performances were commended, with critics paying particular attention to Lynskey. Writing for the Los Angeles Times , Robert Lloyd said, "[Lynskey] is all deep waters and live wires; soft and steely, trying on new personas for size, her Michelle becomes the series' gravitational center. You can feel her feeling". The performance earned her

24000-407: Was a medical student when I was born, so he was studying and going to different universities. And then he was doing his residency, so I was always the new kid in school". She later attended New Plymouth Girls' High School , where she was involved in the drama department and school plays. She has spoken about being shy at school and finding comfort in acting: "It was so freeing, having someone give me

24160-407: Was an object for mass reproduction, merchandising, lampooning, and speculation, and was claimed to have been reproduced in "300 paintings and 2,000 advertisements". The Mona Lisa was regarded as "just another Leonardo until early last century, when the scandal of the painting's theft from the Louvre and subsequent return kept a spotlight on it over several years." From December 1962 to March 1963,

24320-416: Was arrested and imprisoned. Apollinaire implicated his friend Pablo Picasso , who was brought in for questioning. Both were later exonerated. The real culprit was Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia , who had helped construct the painting's glass case. He carried out the theft by entering the building during regular hours, hiding in a broom closet, and walking out with the painting hidden under his coat after

24480-608: Was described by critics as "delightful" and a "standout" among the cast. Despite not sharing her beliefs, Lynskey said that her own Baptist upbringing enabled her to empathize with Rosemary's position, and called working with Blanchett "one of the great experiences of my life". Lynskey agreed to star as a layabout stoner in Lady of the Manor (2021), the directorial debut of Justin Long , because "the thought of being in sweatpants [and] acting like I

24640-400: Was glad to be rid of her." Jean Metzinger 's Le goûter (Tea Time) was exhibited at the 1911 Salon d'Automne and was sarcastically described as "la Joconde à la cuiller" (Mona Lisa with a spoon) by art critic Louis Vauxcelles on the front page of Gil Blas . André Salmon subsequently described the painting as "The Mona Lisa of Cubism". The avant-garde art world has made note of

24800-406: Was high for a whole movie was so freeing". Her performance was well received, with The Hollywood Reporter commenting that she "brings the same airtight commitment to hot mess Hannah that she does to all her varied roles", while Screen Rant felt she "unabashedly embraces physical humor [and] really commits to the gags". Adam McKay 's satirical tackling of the climate crisis , Don't Look Up ,

24960-432: Was met with critical acclaim. For the first time in her career, Lynskey appeared in every scene throughout the film; she described the experience as "a lot of pressure" and said that, because of her lack of bankability at the time, she had assumed the part would be given to somebody like Michelle Williams or Maggie Gyllenhaal . Speaking of his decision to cast Lynskey, director Todd Louiso said, "I knew if I cast her,

25120-548: Was on this huge sitcom. Then, [others] would recognise me from [the show] and think that I never had another job. But I couldn't have done one without the other". Lynskey played Pauline Harnois, the fame-hungry fiancée of soldier Rene Gagnon , in Clint Eastwood 's epic war film Flags of Our Fathers (2006). She then joined the main ensemble of the short-lived Fox series Drive (2007), with Los Angeles Times critic Mary McNamara describing her work as Wendy Patrakas,

25280-618: Was presented with a Spotlight Award at the Hollywood Film Festival . Lynskey played an insecure wife in Helena from the Wedding (2010), with The Hollywood Reporter stating in their review, "The actors form a seamless ensemble, but [the film] belongs to [Lynskey]". She then appeared in the sports drama Touchback (2011), receiving praise for her role as the childhood sweetheart of an ex-football prodigy, and garnered positive notices

25440-661: Was roundly praised by critics. The film's director ( Macon Blair ) wrote the character of Ruth, an aggrieved nursing assistant who takes the law into her own hands after her house is burgled, with Lynskey in mind. The role proved to be physically challenging, as it involved stunt work and the use of prosthetics. Peter Debruge of Variety commended Blair for giving Lynskey "something unforgettable to do" and felt that she delivered her "best work yet", while Time Out described her as "seething and magnetic". In his review for RogerEbert.com , Matt Zoller Seitz said: [Lynskey is] one of those actresses I'm never not glad to see, and it's

25600-406: Was to find Winslet and, especially, Lynskey, a first-time actress. They are perfect, fearless in embodying teenage hysteria. They declaim their lines with an intensity that approaches ecstasy, as if reading aloud from Wuthering Heights . The giggles that punctuate the girls' early friendship are not beneath Winslet and Lynskey. The screams that end the film are not beyond them. Heavenly Creatures

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