Acquire Today Becoming Mona Lisa: The Making Of A Global Icon Illustrated By Donald Sassoon Readily Available As Digital Paper

wasn't overly impressed by the first chapter or two, However, as the book progressed, I began to appreciate it more, In particular, the chapter on the cult of Leonardo and how hiw reputation and image evolved over time were thought provoking, It's easy to forget, even as a historian, how much we shape history to fit ourselves and what we're seeking, The chapters about the evolution of the interpretation of and attitudes toward the Mona Lisa itself were also interesting, although some of his claims and connections seem farfetched.
His work was so broad that it wasn't always deep, and some of his conjectures seem weak, However, overall it was a thoughtprovoking book and worth teh time to read it, This book is incredibly well researched and I fully agree with the author's ultimate conclusion, However, I felt that for the majority of the book that there were too many references from too many art movements, historical backgrounds and cultural moments that didn't, overall, make a huge difference in understanding the Mona Lisa's global fame.
This is not to say that the research presented is not important, but rather feels a bit misplaced in an accessible nonfiction book, It would be far more suited to an academic essay, or even a series of seminars, There are also a couple of chapters particularly 'Lisa goes Global' towards the end of the book where the discussion gets a little slap dash,

I did enjoy Donald Sassoon's obvious enthusiasm for his subject, and perhaps if I had a stronger interest in the Mona Lisa I would have enjoyed it more.
The author of this book, I will admit, was a clever fellow, With all of the buzz, talk, and ideas surrounding one of the most famous paintings in all the art world, he successfully negotiated the paths of an honest thinker.
He proposed the theories to the reader without really ever supporting just one of them,

Although the book was to be enjoyed, there was something about the sections on Lisa going 'pop' that bothered me, Perhaps it was the view of an historical icon as a popculture figure that lagged for me, The lastpages were like dragging my feet through a marsh,

Otherwise, enjoyable read for an art lover! I loved this book, It's a rarity in that it is what I call "real art history, " We just don't think about the fact that the Mona Lisa was not always famous, Imagine that! A promising start gave way to a big old snoozer, Two thumbs down but not way down there were some interesting tidbits and photos, If there was anything Sassoon missed in this book it must have been in Swahili, If you are interested in everything and I mean everything relating to the painting over the pastyears it is here, I only managed to finish this book

because I was out of town with no other reading, UGH . This may be the first book I never finished, I kept trying and trying to read it it sounds cool, doesn't it but I could NOT read it I would rather clean my house than read it.
. . The Mona Lisa is widely recognized as the most famous painting in the history of artand an undeniable icon of pop culture, Her celebrated face is used to sell everything from champagne to automobiles, and appears on ashtrays, mouse pads, and refrigerator magnets, More than any other art object, the Mona Lisa demonstrates that something can be high art and pop, classic and cool, Likewise, Donald Sassoon's elegant narrative is as much the story of one painting's ascendance to the status of global icon as it is the popularization of serious and distinguished art.

A professor and acclaimed writer, Sassoon provides a fascinating account of Leonardo da Vinci, the Renaissance genius who created the picture who the mysterious subject was why it gained its unrivalled position in the art world and how it has come to be used and abused by other artists and the international advertising industry.
Lavishly illustrated, Becoming Mona Lisa is at once social, cultural, and art history of the highest order,
Interesting book that showed how the Mona Lisa became the most famous painting in the world, and how Leonardo da Vinci's reputation as a genius was formed.
I really enjoyed this book!
"The extraordinary story of how Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece became the most famous painting in the world, and an icon of popular culture.
" An okay read, but it does still feel a bit superficial, Does give background to the ridiculous popularity of the painting but not a lot of serious analysis, Donald Sassoon is Emeritus Professor of Comparative European History at Queen Mary, University of London, .