Da Vinci Code Contradictions

Dan Brown's 2003 book "The Da Vinci Code" generated much controversy and inspired numerous individuals by providing them with facts that (even though difficult to verify) seemed especially realistic. Ron Howard's film based on the book further contributed to confusing people and actually influenced many in thinking that society lives in a lie while persons who actually know the truth pose in exemplary members of the social order (Abanes 5) Both works have had a severe impact on me because, as almost anyone, I immediately became captivated by the clever storyline and practically started to hope that at least some of the information I came across were true. It would actually be absurd for someone to claim that both the book and the motion picture have not caused uproar in the Christian world and in society as a whole as a result of making people feel that they need to get actively involved in finding out more about conspiracy theories.

Nowhere is this change in mindset more prevalent than in the progression of the arts, in which Document A includes the two paintings, Mona Lisa and Madonna Enthroned Between Two Angels that showcase the progression of culture through the Renaissance. In the latter, the painter, Duccio Di Buoninsegna, displays a two-dimensional, rather emotionless subject. It’s environment is unrealistic and overly reliant on the color of gold. There is no life to the painting, it is overbearingly religious, and seems to zone in on the prospect of the afterlife rather than life itself. Much to the contrary, Leonardo da Vinci creates a much more vibrant image in the Mona Lisa, seemingly much more grounded in realism. He seems to celebrate

Summary: This is an academic journal written by Tomas Garcia- Salgado. The title of it is The Reverse Outlining Perspective of Leonardo’s Last Supper and Its Image Formation. It was written on April 2008.’’ This article focuses on the perspectives on which the painting was created and how that effects the outcome.’’(Garcia-Salgado, Tomas ).According to this article the perception of this painting depends on 3 concepts. These include the perspective plan and the observers distance, the aperture of his or her visual field, and the limits of the perspective plane. This article explains what these points mea and how does it affect how we view or perceive the painting.

Leonardo da Vinci and the Mona Lisa, both influential and intriguing, for the world. Leonardo da Vinci and The Mona Lisa relate to the history we learn today because it occurred in the Renaissance period. The Renaissance period occurred from 1300 to 1700 C.E. Important to realize, that the Renaissance was the “rebirth” of Classical Culture that occurred in Italy and Flanders. During this time period, many aspects were favored such as patrons. Patrons in this era were financial supporters of the arts. Also, Humanism was colossal in this era. Humanism was deeply recognizable for being an intellectual movement at the heart of the renaissance based on the study of Classical Culture. Given that, Humanism focused on worldly rather than religious subjects and concerns. It is a focus on individual thought. Classical Culture is ancient Greek and ancient Roman influences. Worldly is science, architecture, art, literature, music, inventions, math, technology, and history. Another key point is that humanities were subjects taught in ancient Greek and Roman schools including grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, etc. In this period, perspective was a technique used in art where distant objects appear smaller that those close to the viewer, creating more realistic humans and landscapes in art pieces. A point often overlooked is that many artists use this today. Given the information about the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci and his works sculpted the world. His most eminent painting, The Mona Lisa, convenes many mysteries and conspiracies around it. Notably, many mysteries and conspiracies surround Leonardo da Vinci and his painting, The Mona Lisa, and still surface about the famous artist and work of art.

The artwork that I have chosen to evaluate id Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. This painting is the last supper Jesus had before he was betrayed. I will interpret this painting by the use of cultural studies and its relation to this painting by its use of symbolic iconography as well as cultural studies and how this makes this painting so significant to this day

Leonardo da Vinci was a leading artist and intellectual of the Italian Renaissance and is known for his works such as the Last Supper and Mona Lisa. Da Vinci believed and wrote “a good painter has two chief objects to paint- man and the intention of his soul. The former is easy, the latter hard, for it must be expressed by gestures and the movement of limbs”. Many historian and scholars called and regard to him as a prime example of the Renaissance man. He is widely known primarily as a painter, and for one of his most famous works, The Last Supper.

While members of the church have dismissed The Da Vinci Code as fiction and lies, Dan Brown claims otherwise. In defense of his novel, Brown starts out the book by stating, “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate” (Brown 3). By making this statement in the beginning of his book, Brown is setting himself up to be questioned by skeptics. Many critics of the novel are quick to point out every flaw they can find in the novel and quote it as misinformation. The article, “Masterplots II: Christian Literature” by Suzanne Araas Vesely, explains, “It is important to be aware that The Da Vinci Code is literary fiction; the appearance of historical accuracy is only superficial. Brown’s book is a minefield of disinformation for the unwary reader.” Vesely doubts the accuracy in The Da Vinci Code and depicts the readers who take it as fact as ignorant, ill-informed people. While Vesely points out the disinformation given by Brown, in

The Mona Lisa has been one of the most debated paintings of all time. The look on the face of the women in this painting leaves a person’s mind wondering. No one really seems to know what this mysterious woman is thinking or feeling. The questions that cannot seem to be answered are what make this painting so famous. The reason for that is because it is raveled in mystery and secrets. All of the small details make the painting stand out by being different from others and the details also make it far more remarkable as well. And surely, the smirk on the face of the Mona Lisa is the major key factor to the painting being so interesting. “Leonardo da Vinci was one of the

* Da Vinci –Virgin (Madonna) of the Rocks; Virgin and Child with St. Anne and Infant St. John; Last Supper, Refectory; Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa was Leonardo’s most famous painting. In painting this piece, Leonardo took art to a whole new level. See the trees in the background? and the dirt road the gradually gets smaller? He made distance in this painting by doing these things. Being that he used oil paints, added a greater contrast, and a glow to her and the background. A great painting overall, but a things that were questionable. Where’s her eyebrows? Mr. Cotte conclusion is

Often called the “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo da Vinci was well known for his achievements in the field of science and the portrait of the “Mona Lisa.” Other than studying in the field of science, he was a sculptor and an inventor. In the 1400’s, da Vinci’s observations, theories, and sketches in many of his secret notebooks were too advanced for his time while on the other hand, the knowledge he imparted had a great effect on modern day knowledge. Leonardo da Vinci is a historic figure because he designed and built many important machines that impacted present-day inventors, his studies uncovered new ideas, and he had painted several influential works.

Art: The work of Leonardo da Vinci on perspective, light, shadows, and color in painting

More than simple geometric composition style and use of linear perspective, The Last Supper reflects Da Vinci’s skills in conveying emotions through gestures

The Mona Lisa has to be one of my favorite paintings of all time and has lead me to use this specific painting as a topic for this paper. Not to mention the love I have for Leonardo da Vinci. I, myself have always been drawn to da Vinci’s paintings and all of his other achievements that he has given us during his life. I, like Leonardo da Vinci love art and science just as much as it seems he did. He shares a love of art and a fondness for science. It also seems that he loves a good mystery, and the Mona Lisa just happens to be one clouded in mystery. And I too love a good mystery.

Grasping the full understanding of science and perfection in creative art are the two ultimate goals that mankind had been striving for ever since these two aspects became an important part of society. Many had aimed for it but none succeeded. Most of those who attempted to obtain this Holy Grail failed but some were able to conquer many fields. Leonardo da Vinci is a perfect example of those “Universal Geniuses.” Leonardo was one of the few who achieved major success in both art and sciences including portrait painting, conceptual engineering, anatomy, and many more.