Becoming Monalisa : The Making of a Global Icon

The extraordinary story of how Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece became the most famous painting in the world & an icon of popular culture. In 2003, the 500th anniversary of the Mona Lisa,Ó it became the only work in the Louvre Museum to occupy its own room. But the picture is also used to sell everything from chocolate to champagne to automobiles, & appears on ashtrays, mouse pads, & T-shirts. More than any other art object, the Mona LisaÓ demonstrates that something can be high art & pop, classic & cool. Sassoon examines how the Renaissance genius created the picture, who the subject was, why it gained its unrivaled position in the art world, & how it has come to be used & abused by other artists & the international ad industry. Photos.Sassoon, Donald is the author of 'Becoming Monalisa : The Making of a Global Icon', published 2004 under ISBN 9780756772178 and ISBN 0756772176.