The modern Mona Lisas – portrait is recreated by descendants
THESE models share the same steady gaze as the Mona Lisa – and there’s a very good reason why...
Though the pictures are the work of a photographer rather than a painter, these modern recreations of the world’s best-known portrait have a very special authenticity of their own.
To recreate the portrait, which the Mail is publishing to mark the 500th anniversary of artist Leonardo da Vinci’s death, photographer Drew Gardner tracked down the descendants of the original model who sat for it in 1503, Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo.
And Mr Gardner, 54, of Frome, Somerset, was delighted to find that sisters Princesses Natalia, 42, and Irene Strozzi, 37, bear more than a passing resemblance to their ancestor.
Both are members of the Strozzi Dynasty, a family of aristocratic Florentine merchants. They are still important winemakers near San Gimignano, Tuscany.
Mr Gardner spent more than two years researching and recreating the image. Though he has previously recreated more than 20 portraits featuring the descendants of historical figures, the fact that the Mona Lisa is the most recognisable painting in the world made the project even more challenging than usual. ‘You really feel the weight of history on your shoulders,’ Mr Gardner said.
He travelled throughout Europe to learn how the colours in the painting would once have been far more vivid – but have since faded – and the details of how the portrait was commissioned.
To make sure the sisters looked the part Mr Gardner asked Lincoln-based historical dressmaker Pauline Loven to create a £3,000 replica of the original silk green dress. The mysterious green backdrop was also recreated by British artist Caroline De Peyrecave
The Strozzi sisters are related to the Mona Lisa via their grandmother, who is descended from one of her sons. Mr Gardner said: ‘As soon as I met Natalia and Irene I knew there was enough resemblance to make it work.’
Irene said: ‘It’s really like an analysis of the portrait. It’s like going back in the past.’
Older sister Natalia added: ‘Drew made me feel as if I was sitting in front of Leonardo.’
‘You feel the weight of history’