Classic paintings with secret messages

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

Mysterious hidden messages and images in classic pieces of art

Many works of art hide mysteries and secrets that we are not aware of at first glance. Behind the works of great artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, or Pablo Picasso, are subliminal messages, hidden secrets, and details that you never knew were there.

Get to know the greatest secrets hidden in classic works of art in the following gallery!

'Mona Lisa'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

'Mona Lisa,' painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is known for its hidden mysteries, such as the portrait's cryptic smile.

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

Italian historian Silvano Vincenti claimed to have discovered secret symbols in Mona Lisa's eyes not visible to the naked eye, including the painter's initials "LV" in the right pupil.

'Lady with an Ermine'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

The original version of this famous painting did not include an ermine. Reflective light technology revealed that Leonardo da Vinci painted the animal later.

'Boy Mozart'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

Several theories regarding this painting by Pietro Antonio Lorenzoni indicate that it includes Masonic symbols. Mozart's hidden left hand may represent a hierarchical rank in the secret society.

'The Garden of Earthly Delights'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

It's theorized that, by using exterior panels, Bosch intended the artwork to be its own egg of sorts, one that is cracked and uncracked every time someone engages with the elaborate painting.

'The Prophet Zechariah'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

The celebrated painter Michelangelo created this work in the Sistine Chapel. He had a strained relationship with Pope Julius II, yet represented him in the figure of the biblical prophet Zechariah, together with two angels.

However, one of the angels is making a gesture known as "the fig," an obscene gesture, that has led many to speculate about its significance to Michelangelo and Pope Julius II's feud.

'Netherlandish Proverbs'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

Pieter Bruegel's work from 1559 illustrates various proverbs and is estimated to contain around 100 in total.

'Nighthawks'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

It is speculated that one of the most famous paintings of the 20th century, by Edward Hopper, doesn't actually depict a New York restaurant in Mulry Square, as originally believed. Instead, it's apparently an amalgamation of several spots in the city.

'An Old Man in Military Costume'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

This work was painted around 1630, by the famous Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn.

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

Advanced imaging techniques have discovered a hidden, unfinished painting beneath the layers of oil paint.

'The Life of Saint Francis'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

After going unnoticed for centuries, it was discovered by medieval art expert, Chiara Frugoni, that the artist hid a smiling devil in the background of the painting, as reported by The Telegraph.

'The Lute Player'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

For a long time, the person in this Caravaggio painting was thought to be a woman. Only at the beginning of the 20th century did art critics realize that it depicts a young man playing a lute, an instrument considered masculine at the time.

'The Creation of Adam'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

Some scholars point out that a human brain is hidden in the figure of God in this world famous painting by Michelangelo.

'The Starry Night'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

Researchers came to the conclusion that Van Gogh was shockingly able to capture the concept of turbulent flow in this painting, which is one of the most difficult concepts in physics and mathematics.

'Patch of Grass'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

In 2008, scientists from the Netherlands and Belgium used X-ray technology to discover a hidden portrait behind this painting.

'Supper at Emmaus'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

This work was painted by Caravaggio in 1601, and shows Jesus revealing himself after his resurrection. The painting is full of religious symbols, including grapes that represent Christ's blood, and a pomegranate that represents his resurrection.

'The Bayeux Tapestry'

'Mona Lisa', 'Lady with an Ermine', 'Boy Mozart', 'The Garden of Earthly Delights', 'The Prophet Zechariah', 'Netherlandish Proverbs', 'Nighthawks', 'An Old Man in Military Costume', 'The Life of Saint Francis', 'The Lute Player', 'The Creation of Adam', 'The Starry Night', 'Patch of Grass', 'Supper at Emmaus', 'The Bayeux Tapestry'

'The Bayeux Tapestry,' created in the 11th century, is more than just an iconic artwork. It's also a thrilling story of the Norman Conquest of England.

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