E. L. Scott

“ This is what Vasari himself says of the effect of the picture:—"In this portrait of Leonardo's, on the contrary, there is so pleasing an expression and the smile that while looking at it one thinks it rather divine than human, and it has ever been esteemed a wonderful look since life itself could exhibit no other appearance." ”

“ I consider it with the utmost attention, Landskip, and every part, and find it the same as my father's in every respect, the same particularly in the coloring of the hands as distinguished so that at that distance I could remember no difference, nor can I tell which I should chuse."
Furthermore it is authoritatively stated that the secretary of the king's gallery admitted to Richardson that many experts had doubted the authenticity of the "Mona Lisa" in their gallery. ”

“ The Isleworth work is said to be contemporary with the Louvre picture and much larger, and already there are critics who say that it even has claims for serious consideration as the original masterpiece of Leonardo. The owner, however is content that the work should be judged on its own merits, but holds that it is intrinsically a more beautiful work of art than the famous Paris picture. ”