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Computer Demystifies Mona Lisa?

Mona Lisa’s Smile Decoded

by Anton Shilov

[ 12/16/2005 | 11:54 PM ]

For about half of a thousand years scientists and arts critics were trying to guess the mystery of Mona Lisa’s smile as well as to find out who she really was. A computer emotion recognition program analyzed the smile and spit some light on this vagueness.

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Apparently, Mona Lisa was 83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful and 2% angry, according to the British weekly New Scientist, reports CNN. Still, scientists will probably never know what made her feel the way she did.

The computer software, developed by Nicu Sebe at the University of Amsterdam and researchers at the University of Illinois, examines key facial features, it is reported.

The portrait was painted in Florence, Italy, between 1503 and 1506. Historians have long debated Mona Lisa’s identity, with theories ranging from being Da Vinci’s mother, a self-portrait or a Florentine prostitute.