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Line 152:
Line 152: − − [[Image: johnthebaptist.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Leonardo's''St. John the Baptist'']] − [[Image: lastsupperjohn.gif|thumb|right|200px|The disputed figure from Leonardo's''The Last Supper''. Brown claims it is Mary Magdalene though it is widely held to be John]]
→Part VII: Leonardo DaVinci
Georgetown art historian Diane Cappadonna states,
Georgetown art historian Diane Cappadonna states,
<blockquote>''I do not believe there is a woman in The Last Supper, and I do not believe in any way that it is Mary Magdalene. The ‘V’ shapes”—not a single ‘M’ as Brown interprets—“that are there serve a solely artistic purpose—to place emphasis in the composition on Christ and to emphasize perspective.'' (Burnstein 229-230) </blockquote> Brown also argues the case that the figure must be a woman because “Da Vinci was skilled at painting the difference between the sexes.” It certainly is true that Leonardo was a skilled painter; however all Renaissance artists depicted the disciple John as decidedly effeminate… Leonardo included. In fact, most young men were painted with very womanly features. In Leonardo’s painting St. John the Baptist; the face is astonishingly similar to John in The Last Supper—and equally feminine. Are we to suppose that this also is secretly Mary Magdalene?
<blockquote>''I do not believe there is a woman in The Last Supper, and I do not believe in any way that it is Mary Magdalene. The ‘V’ shapes”—not a single ‘M’ as Brown interprets—“that are there serve a solely artistic purpose—to place emphasis in the composition on Christ and to emphasize perspective.'' (Burnstein 229-230) </blockquote> Brown also argues the case that the figure must be a woman because “Da Vinci was skilled at painting the difference between the sexes.” It certainly is true that Leonardo was a skilled painter; however all Renaissance artists depicted the disciple John as decidedly effeminate… Leonardo included. In fact, most young men were painted with very womanly features. In Leonardo’s painting St. John the Baptist; the face is astonishingly similar to John in The Last Supper—and equally feminine. Are we to suppose that this also is secretly Mary Magdalene?
In addition to The Last Supper, Brown states that "…works like the Mona Lisa and Madonna of the Rocks al[so] …seem to be whispering the same cryptic message. He goes on to describe the Mona Lisa as an androgynous self-portrait. Shelley Esaak explains Brown’s reasoning behind making such an assertion:
In addition to The Last Supper, Brown states that "…works like the Mona Lisa and Madonna of the Rocks al[so] …seem to be whispering the same cryptic message. He goes on to describe the Mona Lisa as an androgynous self-portrait. Shelley Esaak explains Brown’s reasoning behind making such an assertion: