Leonardo da Vinci (2003) BBC

The Secret Life of the Mona Lisa

Programme 3: Mona Lisa

Studying his notebooks, and some of his most famous paintings and inventions, we discover there is far more to Leonardo than you may have thought in the man who wanted to know everything1.



This third programme in the series on Leonardo da Vinci begins by stating that the Mona Lisa is the most famous image in the history of art - but how and why has it become so famous? To answer this, we begin by examining the history of painting. Presenter Alan Yentob, travels to the Loire Valley, France, where in 1516 Leonardo entered the court of King Francis I, bringing the Mona Lisa with him. Alan is amazed to discover that the King kept this priceless painting in his bathroom. We follow the journey of this painting as it passes through the possession of the French Royal Family to Napoleon, for whom it was a favourite, until the revolution in 1789 when it entered the Louvre.



The Mona Lisa rested in the Louvre until 1911, when it was stolen. Alan takes us through the story of the notorious theft, a tale that takes him back to Florence, the city in which the painting was finally recovered.



But the real mystery of the Mona Lisa is her identity. Who is the woman with the famous smile? Whilst in Florence Alan decides to try and find out. He travels on to Milan where, with detective work, the name of the sitter can be discovered.



Now in knowledge of her identity, Alan questions what it is about the Mona Lisa that makes it such a remarkable painting? Of particular interest is the landscape behind the figure. Alan visits Tuscany, looking at the landscape that not only defined Leonardo’s childhood, but also informed his painting as an older man. The Arno valley wasn’t just his playground, it was his laboratory. Alan crosses the bridge that one can see in the background of the painting and marvels at some of the geological formations that Leonardo must have seen - and perhaps painted.



Alan completes his journey of Leonardo’s life and the background to the world's most famous painting in the Loire Valley, where Leonardo spent his last years - the Mona Lisa alongside him.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Author/Presenter: Alan Yentob

The TV series Leonardo attempts to write a biography of the popular, but much misunderstood, Leonardo da Vinci. This three part series uses dramatic reconstruction, expert analysis and the building of his machines, to bring the man and his dreams to life.

While Leonardo is popularly regarded as an artist and inventor, the series highlights his work as an engineer, geologist, anatomist and even astronomer. Through the series we build and test five of Leonardo’s incredible designs - some for the very first time - a parachute, tank, scuba/snorkel, glider and robot. Incredibly, each design proves remarkably prescient.

The BBC/OU Leonardo series is the life story of the famous and mysterious genius, Leonardo da Vinci. The programmes use his original writings, expert analysis, drama and builds some of his machines to bring the man and his dreams to life. Filmed across Italy and marking the 500th anniversary of the Mona Lisa, a three-part, semi-dramatised biography of Leonardo da Vinci, written and presented by Alan Yentob.



EPISODES:

* The Man Who Wanted to Know Everything

* Dangerous Liaisons

* The Secret Life of the Mona Lisa