Artist Spots Hidden Images Of Animals In Mona Lisa (VIDEO)

The Mona Lisa has puzzled viewers for over 500 years with her enigmatic smile... but has her coy grin only been a distraction for Da Vinci's real mystery? Is the Mona Lisa surrounded by animals? Rochester artist Ron Piccirillo thinks he has brought the 500-year old secret to light.

It all started when Piccirillo was doing research for an art project and decided to get a fresh perspective on the work by, in his words, "employing an old artist's trick" and turning the piece on its side.

Suddenly Piccirillo noticed a lion hovering by Mona Lisa's head; soon an ape, buffalo and crocodile also became visible. Confronted with this scene out of the 'Da Vinci Code' come to life, Piccirillo recalled thinking: "Oh my God."

At this point Piccirillo began pouring over Da Vinci's old journals, looking to find any textual hints corroborating his findings. The artist found text that mirrored his findings in the work, predicting the nascent existence of zoo animals in the work as well as providing a key to their symbolic meaning.

Da Vinci wrote: "Give her a leopard's skin, because this creature kills the lion out of envy and by deceit," alluding to the hidden lion's head and providing a meaning for all of the hidden symbols: the Mona Lisa is a painting about envy.

Many art historians are skeptical of Piccirillo's findings, both because of the intensely cryptic nature of the symbolism and the likelihood that this would only show up now in what is probably the most studied painting of all time. See for yourself, follow Piccirillo's findings on his website.

This discovery has attracted a lof of media attention, but even this may be only the beginning of something far more meaningful. Piccirillo said of his accidental discovery: "It is not just in da Vinci's works. I have seen these hidden images in works by Titian and Rafael and also all over the Sistine Chapel."

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article reported that Piccirillo discovered a snake behind the Mona Lisa when it was, in fact, a crocodile.

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Comments

[ElizabethVenturini]

02:57 PM on 01/05/2012

If you want to know about the real Mona Lisa "code," you are invited to visit www.MonaLisaCode.com

Recent findings show three "witch" owls and St. Christopher hidden in the rock formations on the left landscape--and you don't have to turn the painting sideways to see them.

These figures correspond to a precise land survey that Leonardo da Vinci conceived between the Vatican and Lake Nemi outside Rome. The existence of this survey was revealed by Scott Lund on 9/10/11 in Rome and was reported by all the major news media in Italy.

The Huffington Post already did a feature story on Scott Lund before his recent discoveries were made public.

[Elizabeth Venturini]

04:19 PM on 12/19/2011

On 9/10/11 the real hidden symbolism of the Mona Lisa was revealed in Rome by Los Angeles investigative writer Scott Lund. It was covered by the most notable news media in Italy, but has not gained as much international attention as this rather far-fetched interpretation. In its essence, the Mona Lisa is all about "Childbirth," and the painting’s incongruous sides represent two ends of a land survey drawn by Leonardo da Vinci between the Vatican and the site of childbirth cult at Lake Nemi outside Rome. A wonderful graphic of his presentation and its secret symbols can be seen at www.MonaLisaCode.com

[bi-poplar]

03:54 PM on 12/12/2011

Just this morning on my way to work I saw a parrot and a clown in coffee stains on the subway platform. A couple of weeks ago I saw a face in the leaves of the tree outside my window. And this last weeend I saw a bunny in the clouds.

[Thierry Gallier]

05:16 PM on 12/09/2011

Look at this, in the "St. John the Baptist," by Leonardo da Vinci:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN-hsVdVBcU&feature=relmfu

[Thierry Gallier]

04:34 PM on 12/09/2011

The hidden images and decryption of the Mona Lisa is in this book, published in April 2011, in Paris: "Isis, the Mona Lisa revealed."
website of the book: http://www.mona-lisa-revealed.com/

[bcd629]

01:22 PM on 12/09/2011

The word is "poring," not "pouring."

[Tumbriller]

10:00 PM on 12/10/2011

Yeah. I panicked for a moment, wondering how much of an idiot Piccirillo was to pour anything over DaVinci's journals.

[G R]

09:57 PM on 12/08/2011

This is such a sad statement on the general lack of knowledge of DaVinci's work. There is no hidden symbolism in the Mona Lisa. It is akin to seeing faces in the clouds. That this was ever considered newsworthy reflects the general gullibility of an audience unfamiliar with renaissance art. The 'Mona Lisa smile' is reflected in countless variations in DaVinci's other works; it is simply his trademark way of painting faces.

[Tree S-B]

12:46 PM on 12/08/2011

Wait! I think I see my Master's thesis in there! And a chance for my fifteen minutes!

[clarkkentdlyplnt]

12:21 PM on 12/07/2011

I don't think the conclusion that the painting is about envy is correct. If what the artist writes "give her a leopards skin because this creature kills the lion with envy and deceit." are about the Mona Lisa ,it's clearly about the battle of the sexes. Lions being males and leopards, females. This would explain the coy smile of superiority.

[Watching rock grow]

04:18 PM on 12/07/2011

With the snake appearing where it does. I believe you have the better grasp of the symbolism. Thanks!

[whitey08]

12:12 PM on 12/07/2011

I'm firing up my bowl then i'll take a look

[branecoke]

12:06 PM on 12/07/2011

http://edsalvato.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/mona-lisa-painting.jpg. See for yourself off the right shoulder of Mona Lisa, there is a lions head and a snake right under it. Why hasn't anyone noticed that in all these years.

[Watching rock grow]

04:17 PM on 12/07/2011

What and degrade that almost worshipful object of great art? How dare Ron Piccirillo abuse it as he did!

[James Roseman]

11:18 AM on 12/07/2011

After the got in close, i did see the Lion. This could be just a coincidnce though. They'll need to study it more.

[ronpic]

10:12 AM on 12/07/2011

Ron here. Wanted to chime in – check out www.TheHiddenHorseHead.com for more info. Thanks.

[Paul Weikel]

07:35 PM on 12/07/2011

I appreciate your work and detailed study. I would say even though others may disagree with you that you make a viable arguement and case. Yes I read your entire blog start to finish. Like you i see the smirk, and knowing the Genius that was the Master of all Renaisance Painters it would be just in keeping with his discribed nature to play the most masterful of Jokes of all time. Few if any other painters would or could manage to hide in plain sight in the most elegant way for as long as this smirk could. Da Vinci whether any agree with my humble self or not was and still is the Master that teaches us to be better humans, even when playing a joke.

[rkeeeballs]

09:43 AM on 12/07/2011

This makes me want to paint something !!....whooooa

[mnsrc]

02:09 AM on 12/07/2011

"da Vinci" is his address, not his name.

[GraphicMatt]

01:28 PM on 12/07/2011

Was Van Gogh his address? Caravaggio's full name was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, yet we call him by his "address" do we not? Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, or as we call him Parmigianino, or the little one from Parma, his address. I could continue if you'd like as there are a whole lot more.