《新编大学英语》综合教程（第三版第一册）B1U6_Self-market_Reading Material_The Mystery of the Mona Lisa

The Mystery of the Mona Lisa An artist claims to have cracked the 500-year-old mystery of the Mona Lisa after spotting hidden images in the famous painting. Ron Piccirillo spotted the heads of a lion,an ape and a buffalo in the landscape behind Leonardo da Vinci's most famous portrait by turning the painting on its side. The 37-year-old also believes there is a hidden crocodile or snake coming out of the left-hand side of her body. The painter and graphic designer claims to have found the hidden images by following instructions da Vinci himself laid out in his journals.And he believes his discovery has solved the mystery behind the Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile-that the painting is actually a representation of envy. A passage in da Vinci's work claims:"Envy must be represented with a contemptuous motion of the hand towards heaven,because if she could she would use her strength against God

The Mystery of the Mona Lisa An artist claims to have cracked the 500-year-old mystery of the Mona Lisa after spotting hidden images in the famous painting. Ron Piccirillo spotted the heads of a lion, an ape and a buffalo in the landscape behind Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous portrait by turning the painting on its side. The 37-year-old also believes there is a hidden crocodile or snake coming out of the left-hand side of her body. The painter and graphic designer claims to have found the hidden images by following instructions da Vinci himself laid out in his journals.And he believes his discovery has solved the mystery behind the Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile – that the painting is actually a representation of envy. A passage in da Vinci’s work claims: "Envy must be represented with a contemptuous motion of the hand towards heaven, because if she could she would use her strength against God

Mr.Piccirillo studied the painting and saw that the Mona Lisa's hand is bent awkwardly at the wrist,and a swirling serpent shape lurks in the background behind her. He also compares the lion's head to a passage which reads that artists trying to paint envy must "give her a leopard's skin,because this creature kills the lion out of envy and by deceit". Mr.Piccirillo also claims to have found similar hidden images in the works of other Renaissance painters includ ing Titian and Rafael

Mr. Piccirillo studied the painting and saw that the Mona Lisa’s hand is bent awkwardly at the wrist, and a swirling serpent shape lurks in the background behind her. He also compares the lion’s head to a passage which reads that artists trying to paint envy must "give her a leopard's skin, because this creature kills the lion out of envy and by deceit". Mr. Piccirillo also claims to have found similar hidden images in the works of other Renaissance painters including Titian and Rafael