According to a leading Italian art historian, the model used for the ‘Mona Lisa’ was in fact a man.  Apparently, the man in question was da Vinci’s apprentice and possibly even his lover.  What, da Vinci could have been a gay artist?  How shocking.

Silvano Vinceti believes that the apprentice, a man named Gian Giacomo Caprotti, was a favourite model of da Vinci’s.  And he has even proposed that other works, including ‘St. John the Baptist’, were based on the young man.

You might also remember that late last year Vinceti also revealed that he had discovered some letters and numerals in the eyes of the ‘Mona Lisa’.

However, not everyone agrees with Vinceti’s opinions.  With many researchers speculating that the ‘Mona Lisa’ began as a portrait of a specific person but then slowly turned into something else.

Even so, Vincenti’s findings have caused a stir on the net, and will ensure that even more Japanese tourists flock to see the miniscule artwork.

[Source: IOL]