Sonnet on da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
I don’t wish to disparage Leonard da Vinci’s taste
but his choice of Mona Lisa, evidently made in haste,
was unfortunate for, if you take away her sickly smile,
the rest of her is hardly the epitome of style.
I suppose he had to make the best of what was then available
though, in Florence, surely girls had charms more prominently saleable.
Most models are notorious for not caring where they sleep
and, maybe, Leonardo liked to do things on the cheap?
Apart from Mona’s crowning crop of straggly raven hair,
her cleavage indicates a somewhat mediocre pair.
One cannot help but wonder whether, ‘neath that full-length gown,
is concealed a pair of unshaved legs with hair the whole way down.
I don’t know what the fuss made of her portrait is about
for I seriously think it calls his judgement into doubt.
Hugh Wyles, January 2nd. 2006.
Author notes
The second of my "Louvre Trilogy".
When we finally (on our second visit) got inside the Louvre, jostled by thousands of other tourists at the height of the summer season, I must admit that my level of artistic appreciation was running at a very low ebb!
Sonnetto Coppiato or ‘Couplet Sonnet’ in Iambic Heptameter with Rhymescheme: aabb ccdd eeff gg.
Written January 8th, 2006
In a list
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What did you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Dear Laba,
~~~
If da Vinci had painted a cleavage like yours
his portrait would get a much wider applause
and Cole would have earned lots more cash with his ditty;
that Mona appears so flat-chested's a pity.
If she'd had much more to show, in the right place,
Leo might not have been so obsessed with her face.
Now I'm not against women who have hairy legs
as long as they're clean and don't smell like old eggs.
In fact, I admit, I prefer healthy bush
although I'll accept neatly trimmed (at a push)
and I think your conclusion is probably fitting
that he wiped all his brushes clean after each sitting!
Then he'd go off to do some more work on Saint Peter.
(Please note this is all iambic tetrameter!!)
~~~
Love and hugs and watch out for crocodiles, they bite!
XXX Kingy Poo (aka Pharaoh Phoo.)
Edited on Jan 09, 8:11 p.m. because ''. -
You mean he shaved HIS legs?
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excellent~
Well I for one never saw the hub hub of Mona Lisa's smile myself...
I too wonder what what she was thinking as she sat and posed for this picture....she never knew it would be hanging in a museum for years to come......But have yet penned another great sonnet here da....
I just never was too wild about Mona Lisa nor her smile myself
Love n hugs
Susan~~~
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Sadly one of my friends decided to take a picture of me one day and then showed it to another friend of mine. The common comment I get upon people seeing the picture? 'You look like the Mona Lisa!' Ugh. I do NOT look like her. I don't have a 'secretive' smile but I DO have eyebrows, whereas she does not.
Wonderfully irreverent sonnet, Hugh! It always amuses me when people make fun of famous people or things because it proves that they too are fallible. 
Elisa
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Dear Hugh,
AWWWw, she's not so bad, he could've picked worst, but what IS she hiding behing that famous smile? Maybe she fancied him and her imagination was working. Very well written Sonnet my Friend, enjoyable as always. Will look forward to the 3rd "Louvre Trilogy"
Applause.
Hugs and Love
Bea xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -
Poor Mona ...she probably didn't get diddly for this pose..diddled, perhaps, but not diddly as per dinero. I have often wondered what little secret she's hiding behind that faint smile of hers, though.
Thanks for your amusing write, Hugh... it did indeed bring back memories of dancing in the gezebo to the tune of Nat King Cole's rendition of Mona Lisa, with my handsome young soldier....
Oh, yeah.. your poem.... perhaps di Vinci wished to keep his little secret between him and Mona and delibertly painted the smile that leaves a lot to be desired...or maybe it was the lot that remains desired that was his inspiration to paint her rather dowdily to begin with.... to remind him to stay out of her bed from now on....my bad..... my mind is not at it's utmost purest today.
A funny poem, Hugh, even though it does leave us just as much in the dark as we were to begin with....just more options to digest and expell upon.
And don't mind me...I'm sort of weird today for some reason.
I do love this piece, though. Very entertaining as well as (possibly) factual
Love and
Dee
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I loved this one - it's almost the exact same thing i think while viewing her portrait. It makes me giggle all over again - delightfully wicked and honest Bravo Hugh! Perfect!
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Funny, irreverent thoughts about a much loved work of art. I like to think that she could not help smiling her famous smile because she was still feeling the effects of what had transpired just before she sat for her portrait.
Love and Hugs,
♥ Maureen
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Goodness Hugh, what thoughts you have. I heard of a theory that La Gioconda was da Vinci's self portrait as a woman, however, she is also reputed to be the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. Her smile seems complacent, she is evidently not judging herself by your criteria.
Your sonnet is great as ever, though I don't agree with your conclusion.
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Today laughter does not come easily but you managed to gift me with a good bout of it. Are you saying that dear Mona was homely?
I concede that she is no beauty; but then when I draw portraits I find that diverse facial features, with age, flaws and expression, are far more challenging and enjoyable to draw. Perhaps that was Da Vinci's perspective too. Or, as someone once told me, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I so enjoy your wonderful humor and the meter works beautifully.
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