The Mona Lisa painting is one of great elegance and beauty that has withstood the passage of time.

The Mona Lisa painting is a elegant and beautiful painting done by and even more impressive artist of the time. The materials used for this masterpiece are oil paint as well as a panel of poplar wood. The technique used to create this masterpiece is called sfumato. This technicque overlays the transluscent layers of colour to create perceptions of depth, volume, and form. Style can be easily summed up as the begining of numerous styles of art, this being one of the true masterpieces in the history of art. The meaning that can be found in this painting in the balance between the woman and the landscape that surrounds her. This is what helps to create that natural order. The symbolism is seen in her smile, as this highlights the overall calm of the painting. Showing her comfort with her surroundings. The last supper was started in 1495 and finished in 1498. It is a rather large painting 460 x 880 cm (15 x 29 ft) It covers a large wall, not as small as the reproductions seen in some peoples homes. Leonardo was always trying to think of new ways to create art. Instead of using the traditional and more widely used tempera on a wet plaster, he used dry plaster. This end result was a varied pallette. The colors used vary. The colors used in this painting are soft and mellow. This allows for a feeling of connection as it shows the realism of the figures painted. This is one of the first to use that realism, real people doing real things in a painting. The meaning of the last supper is peace and acceptance. The others in this painting look either grief stricken or distressed in some other way. It is with Christ seated in the middle that we see the sense of calm that washes over the painting. The symbolism is the breaking of bread and sharing of the wine. Both used to display as well as describe the body and blood of christ. The Florentine artist Sandro Botticelli painted the Birth of Venus in 1485. This was his first large scale painting. The birth of Venus was painted on an oil canvas. The artist used his own tempera, using little fat and covering the painting with a layer of pure egg yolk. This process brought out the colors and made the painting look brighter. The colors in this painting are used in a very effective way. All of the colors seen on the right hand side of the painting are darker and more earthly. Whereas those seen on the left hand side are gentler. This being the nymph waiting to cover her. The painting is more pagan in its theme than the roman churches idea of art that was more widely popular as well as accepted. Meaning comes in the form of transition as she moves from one peaceful and serene environment to the dark and unforgiving world that we know. The symbolism comes from the seashell, excessively long hair, and the nudity. This shows her birth and the end of innocence as she is seen covering herself while the other nymphs around her are either clothed or also trying to clothe

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In all three paintings the artist has brought the focus to one specific person. This is done through different gestures. In the last supper this is seen where Christ has his hands out. Also noted he is the only one thought not talking to anyone or everyone directly is saying so much in this simple gesture. The Birth of Venus and the last supper were both created with oil paintings where the last supper used plaster. Both paintings also emphasize a certain togetherness that can be felt throughout. It is much colder in the last supper where Christ is seated in the middle and is seemingly ignored by everyone around him. While the Birth of Venus was one of Sandros first large scale paintings Leonardo had already displayed his mastery of the arts in previous works. These two are more of a refresher course for himself and others to follow.