SCIENTISTS have discovered how Leonardo da Vinci managed to create the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa. They believe they have discovered how he managed to achieve his distinctive smoky effect on the painting by applying up to 40 layers of extremely thin glaze which is believed to have been smeared on with his fingers, London's The Sunday Telegraph reports.
Using subtlety different pigments the glaze creates the slight blurring of the shadows around the mouth which gave the Mona Lisa her barely noticeable smile which appears to disappear when looked at directly.
Scientists used X-rays to study the painting and were able to see how the layers of the glaze and paint had been built up to varying levels on different areas of the face.
Dr Philippe Walter, who led the French study, said: "The perfection of Leonardo da Vinci's painting technique has always been fascinating. The gradation of tones or colors from light to dark is barely perceptible. The thinness of the glaze layers must be underlined; it confirms the dexterity of the painter to apply such thin layers."
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