Riccardo Magnani Disputes Ann Pizzorusso's Mona Lisa Location Theory

Riccardo Magnani, an Italian academic, has challenged Ann Pizzorusso's assertion that the scenery in Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa (1503–1506) illustrates a section of Lake Como, particularly the area between Lake Garlate and the Ponte Azzone Visconti. Pizzorusso's hypothesis, which was detailed on May 14, is based on geological studies. In contrast, Magnani, who shared his own findings on July 13, 2017, contends that she incorrectly identifies the site, as Lake Garlate is depicted on the painting's right. He believes Leonardo’s landscape incorporates elements from at least eight different locations, aligning with lakes close to Olgiate, Dervio, and Bellano. Magnani also criticized The Guardian for its sensational reporting and mentioned that Senator Cermenati first suggested the Lake Como link in the early 1900s.