identifying leonardo's mona lisa
brenda kellow
september 1, 2013
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about constructing a likeness from a person’s DNA. In Florence, Italy, researchers hope to use this new technology to put a name and face on a 16th century mystery of the oil painting the Italians call the “Gioconda.” We call it the Mona Lisa.
The 16th century art historian Giorgio Vasari first identified the subject as the wife of the silk merchant who was Leonardo Da Vinci’s neighbor. Historians theorize most likely Lisa Gherardini's husband, businessman Francesco del Giocondo, commissioned Leonardo to paint his wife.
Carbon 14 tests on three of the eight skeletons, one expected to be her son unearthed in the Gherardini family tomb in St. Ursula, should identify whether or not the remains are from the 1500s. They are using Francesco del Giocondo's DNA to positively identify his son. With that confirmed, scientists will compare the son’s DNA with the skull of Lisa Gherardini Giocondo taken from an old convent where she spent her last years, the cloister of the Sant'Orsola convent. The DNA likeness of her face has a five percent margin of error.
If they do identify the remains through DNA, we may be able to determine why she has that mysterious smile. Would it be because she was shy or maybe she had bad teeth? Or, no teeth at all!
Will we be able to reconstruct our ancestors’ likenesses in the future? At the present time it is much to costly to unearth ancestors and run the necessary DNA tests. It's an interesting concept. I just can't get beyond the part where my ancestor is dug up!
DATE CHANGE FOR GENEALOGY FRIENDS SEPTEMBER SEMINAR: The Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. Board of Directors elected to change the usual date of their September 21 seminar to Saturday, September 28. This will enable Genealogy Friends members to attend the Ancestry.com seminar in Arlington on September 21.
The Mid-Cities Genealogical Society is hosting an all-day seminar on using Ancestry.com. This is an opportunity to learn more on a database that we all use. Unfortunately, it falls on the same day as the Genealogy Friends monthly September 21 seminar.
The Ancestry.com all-day seminar is at the Arlington Convention Center. For more information and to register and download your tickets go www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmcgs/.
You will need to register and pay for the workshop through the Mid-Cities Genealogical Society; Genealogy Friends is only helping with transportation.
If you want to attend and would like a ride, or if you will drive and take passengers, contact Jean Funk at [email protected], or phone Genealogy Friends at 972-836- 9436. The email is [email protected]. The home page web site is at www.genealogyfriends.org. The Genealogy Friends Board offers this great opportunity to assist all their members in using the Ancestry.com site because it is a major database we all use.
GENEALOGY FRIENDS SEPTEMBER 28 SEMINAR: Please note the date change. Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. will present a free program on the topic of conquering those brick walls from 10:30-12:30 p.m. in the Program Room of the W. O. Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road. The lecture presented by Barbara Coakley is Ten Tips to Break Down Brick Walls. Come learn these techniques and network with other genealogists over coffee. For more information, visit the web site at www.genealogyfriends.org, email [email protected] or telephone 972-836-94436.
SAN ANTONIO FALL SEPTEMBER ALL-DAY SEMINAR: The San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society Fall Seminar is scheduled for October 19 at the John Calvin Presbyterian Church, 8102 Midcrown at Walzem from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early registration is suggested. The speaker is Beverly Rice speaking on organization and analysis, researching female lines, researching military men of the Confederacy and railroads and their role in western migration west of the Missouri River. For more information call 210-342-5242, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.rootsweb.com/~txsaghs2.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].
The 16th century art historian Giorgio Vasari first identified the subject as the wife of the silk merchant who was Leonardo Da Vinci’s neighbor. Historians theorize most likely Lisa Gherardini's husband, businessman Francesco del Giocondo, commissioned Leonardo to paint his wife.
Carbon 14 tests on three of the eight skeletons, one expected to be her son unearthed in the Gherardini family tomb in St. Ursula, should identify whether or not the remains are from the 1500s. They are using Francesco del Giocondo's DNA to positively identify his son. With that confirmed, scientists will compare the son’s DNA with the skull of Lisa Gherardini Giocondo taken from an old convent where she spent her last years, the cloister of the Sant'Orsola convent. The DNA likeness of her face has a five percent margin of error.
If they do identify the remains through DNA, we may be able to determine why she has that mysterious smile. Would it be because she was shy or maybe she had bad teeth? Or, no teeth at all!
Will we be able to reconstruct our ancestors’ likenesses in the future? At the present time it is much to costly to unearth ancestors and run the necessary DNA tests. It's an interesting concept. I just can't get beyond the part where my ancestor is dug up!
DATE CHANGE FOR GENEALOGY FRIENDS SEPTEMBER SEMINAR: The Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. Board of Directors elected to change the usual date of their September 21 seminar to Saturday, September 28. This will enable Genealogy Friends members to attend the Ancestry.com seminar in Arlington on September 21.
The Mid-Cities Genealogical Society is hosting an all-day seminar on using Ancestry.com. This is an opportunity to learn more on a database that we all use. Unfortunately, it falls on the same day as the Genealogy Friends monthly September 21 seminar.
The Ancestry.com all-day seminar is at the Arlington Convention Center. For more information and to register and download your tickets go www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txmcgs/.
You will need to register and pay for the workshop through the Mid-Cities Genealogical Society; Genealogy Friends is only helping with transportation.
If you want to attend and would like a ride, or if you will drive and take passengers, contact Jean Funk at [email protected], or phone Genealogy Friends at 972-836- 9436. The email is [email protected]. The home page web site is at www.genealogyfriends.org. The Genealogy Friends Board offers this great opportunity to assist all their members in using the Ancestry.com site because it is a major database we all use.
GENEALOGY FRIENDS SEPTEMBER 28 SEMINAR: Please note the date change. Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc. will present a free program on the topic of conquering those brick walls from 10:30-12:30 p.m. in the Program Room of the W. O. Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road. The lecture presented by Barbara Coakley is Ten Tips to Break Down Brick Walls. Come learn these techniques and network with other genealogists over coffee. For more information, visit the web site at www.genealogyfriends.org, email [email protected] or telephone 972-836-94436.
SAN ANTONIO FALL SEPTEMBER ALL-DAY SEMINAR: The San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society Fall Seminar is scheduled for October 19 at the John Calvin Presbyterian Church, 8102 Midcrown at Walzem from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early registration is suggested. The speaker is Beverly Rice speaking on organization and analysis, researching female lines, researching military men of the Confederacy and railroads and their role in western migration west of the Missouri River. For more information call 210-342-5242, email [email protected] or visit the website at www.rootsweb.com/~txsaghs2.
Brenda Kellow has a bachelor's degree in history, teaches, and lectures on genealogy. Before retiring to publish her family’s histories in 2007, Brenda held certification as a Certified Genealogist and as a Certified Genealogical Instructor. Send reunion announcements, books to review, and genealogy queries to: [email protected].