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14 September 2024

Review: 31213 Mona Lisa from LEGO® Art

Posted by Jonas Kramm

It's time to crack the LEGO® Da Vinci Code! The new Mona Lisa LEGO® Art set hides not only a mysterious smile but also many recoloured elements to re-imagine the famous painting in bricks. And by the way, the frame puts all previous gold rushes in the shade. Let's have a closer look at the colour layers while the paint is still fresh.

Loose Lego pieces from set 31213 Mona Lisa

Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
This article contains affiliate links to LEGO.com; we may get a small commission if you purchase.

31213 Mona Lisa
  • Price: US$99.99/ £89.99/ 99.99€/ AU$169.99
  • Pieces: 1503
  • Release date: 1 October 2024

LEGO Art 31213 Mona Lisa on LEGO.com
Lego Art 31213 Mona Lisa box and completed set

 

This year, LEGO is celebrating two Parisian icons. After LEGO® Architecture 21061 Notre Dame (as reviewed by Eero) it's off to the Louvre to see another dame: Mona Lisa. While both sets were announced at the same time and Notre Dame was released in June, this LEGO Art set will be available come October.

Recolours

The LEGO Mona Lisa comes with an overwhelming amount of recoloured elements – 36 total – which will come in handy for builders who work in earthy tones. 

Many of them are in light nougat, which is the primary colour her skin is recreated with. The popularity of this former minifigure colour is currently on the rise with more and more brick-built characters appearing in LEGO sets, so it's surprising that some of these ordinary elements haven't been needed before.

5 very light pink lego tiles of different shapes
  • 2x Tile 1 x 1 with Groove in Light Nougat (6480394 | 3070b)
  • 3x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove in Light Nougat (6480361 | 3068b)
  • 4x Tile 2 x 3 in Light Nougat (6480378 | 26603)
  • 1x Tile Special 2 x 2 with 2 Quarter Round Cutouts in Light Nougat (6480364 | 3396)
  • 2x Tile 45° Cut 2 x 2 (Triangle) in Light Nougat (6480369 | 35787)

6 very light pink lego pieces in different wedge shapes
  • 1x Slope Curved 2 x 1 with Stud Notch Left in Light Nougat (6480356 | 29120)
  • 1x Slope Curved 2 x 1 with Stud Notch Right in Light Nougat (6480371 | 29119)
  • 2x Wedge Plate 2 x 2 Left in Light Nougat (6480357 | 24299)
  • 1x Wedge Plate 2 x 2 Right in Light Nougat (6490452 | 24307)
  • 2x Wedge Plate 3 x 2 Left in Light Nougat (6480355 | 43723)
  • 1x Wedge Plate 3 x 2 Right in Light Nougat (6480372 | 43722)
While most of them come in small quantities, their appearance here will hopefully pave the way to stock up your supplies at LEGO Pick a Brick, but probably not until February 2025.


Meanwhile, 371 Warm Tan [TLG]/ Medium Tan [BL] is still a very new LEGO colour, introduced to widen the diversity of skin tones on characters. The only exception prior to this was a LEGO® Harry Potter BrickHeadz (40616) with four bricks in that colour. Mona Lisa doubles that with another eight elements in warm tan.

9 different lego pieces all in warm tan
  • 1x Tile 3 x 3 Curved, Macaroni in Warm Tan (6480659 | 79393)
  • 4x Tile Round 1 x 1 Quarter in Warm Tan (6480667 | 25269)
  • 3x Tile Round 1 x 1 Half Circle in Warm Tan (6490473 | 24246 35398 35399)
  • 1x Tile Special 2 x 2 with 2 Quarter Round Cutouts in Warm Tan (6480661 | 3396)
  • 1x Slope Curved 2 x 2 x 2/3 in Warm Tan (6480663 | 15068)
    • 7x Tile 1 x 2 with Groove in Warm Tan (6480660 | 3069b)
  • 6x Tile 45° Cut 2 x 2 (Triangle) in Warm Tan (6480666 | 35787)
  • 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Stud Notch Right in Warm Tan (6491460 | 5092)
  • 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Stud Notch Left in Warm Tan (6491459 | 5091)

These next parts say "I ❤ Medium Nougat". Both rounded plates appear here in that colour for the first time:

2 rounded lego plates both in medium nougat
  • 1x Plate Special 1 x 3 Rounded with 3 Open Studs in Medium Nougat (6492538 | 77850)
  • 1x Plate Angled 3 x 3 with Heart Shape in Medium Nougat (6494132 | 39613)

The variety of dark tan wedge plates and tiles also gets expanded.

3 legp pieces in different triangular shapes, all in dark tan
  • 6x Wedge Plate 2 x 4 27° Left in Dark Tan (6480358 | 65429)
  • 6x Wedge Plate 2 x 4 27° Right in Dark Tan (6480359 | 65426)
  • 5x Tile 45° Cut 2 x 2 (Triangle) in Dark Tan (6480380 | 35787)

Fans of medieval builds will love the addition of these elements in dark brown:

4 different lego pieces in dark brown
  • 4x Tile 45° Cut 2 x 2 (Triangle) in Dark Brown (6480375 | 35787)
  • 4x Wedge Plate 2 x 2 Left in Dark Brown (6480379 | 24299)
  • 4x Wedge Plate 2 x 2 Right in Dark Brown (6480362 | 24307)
  • 18x Tile Round 1 x 1 Quarter in Dark Brown (6462538 | 25269)

Tile 45° Cut 2 x 2 (Triangle) comes with this set in four new colours, so it's a great opportunity to show the earthy colour range now possible with this piece: 

6 lego triangle tiles, each a different natural shade of pink or brown.

Beginning on the left in the photo above we have light nougat, warm tan, medium nougat, tan, dark tan and dark brown.

Further recolours are even introduced for the background of the painting and while the bright light blue tiles get scattered out almost randomly, it's satisfying to get both sides in the same quantity:

2 bright light blue lego wedge tiles
  • 9x Tile 1 x 2 with Stud Notch Left in Bright Light Blue (6490450 | 5091)
  • 9x Tile 1 x 2 with Stud Notch Right in Bright Light Blue (6490471 | 5092)

The "Only Child" pieces

The face of the Mona Lisa isn't perfectly symmetrical, so the LEGO version follows suit, which leads to a not insignificant number of the asymmetrical LEGO pieces included. I call a piece like this an "Only Child", lacking its mirrored sibling. Keep that in mind if you intend to use them in your builds, as it can might cause some frustration.

5 different asymmetrical lego wedge pieces
  • 1x Slope Curved 2 x 2 with Stud Notch Left in Light Nougat (6490474 | 5095)
  • 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Stud Notch Left in Light Nougat (6490449 | 5091)
  • 1x Slope Curved 2 x 1 with Stud Notch Right in Warm Tan (6480665 | 29119)
  • 1x Wedge Plate 3 x 2 Right in Warm Tan (6480662 | 43722)
  • 2x Wedge 4 x 2 Right in Dark Brown (6490475 | 41767)

New prints

Three new decorated elements are included for her face:

three different light nougat lego pieces printed with eyes or a mouth
  • 1x Slope Curved 2 x 1 No Studs with print in Light Nougat (6483411)
  • 1x Tile 2 x 2 with print in Light Nougat (6494133)
  • 1x Tile 1 x 3 with print in Light Nougat (6483410)

Gold parts

Next to the artwork, another reason to steal the LEGO Mona Lisa is the ridiculous 314 pieces in 335 Gold Ink [TLG]/ Metallic Gold [BL], making this set the highest part count for that colour.

These are the most frequent parts:

big piles of 4 different golden lego parts
  • 160x Brick Curved 1 x 1 x 2/3 Double Curved Top, No Studs (6286351 | 66187)
  • 80x Tile Special 1 x 2 Ingot (6294492 | 67117)
  • 50x Tile 1 x 6 with Groove (6332144 | 75702)

All of them are integrated into the frame and the set easily outclasses the previous contenders 76191 Infinity Gauntlet (with 153) and 80012 Monkey King Warrior Mech (119) by more than double. We will have to wait and see if this single-set count will ever be surpassed.

large gold lego frame, framing the Lego infinity Gantlet set

See all Gold Ink pieces currently available on LEGO Pick a Brick

The build

This is first LEGO Art set I've built, so it was an interesting experience. It starts with the golden frame, which is pretty repetitive and uses just a few different pieces, along with reddish brown elements in similarly large quantities, such as 84x Slope Inverted 45° 2 x 2 (6425510 | 76959).

brown lego pieces being used to construct a frame

The tedious placement of all those /metallic gold pieces is worth it, as the finished frame is shining in the light. 

lego frame being made from brown and gold pieces

As Mona was still on her way, I temporarily filled the frame with one of my builds:

large lego frame, framing a lego model of a mushroom house


Next comes the canvas which forms the basis for Leonardo's masterpiece. The original is made of thin poplar wood. 

structure of a lego frame.

In the framework, a white wall hanger is integrated for easier mounting later.


a large thick rectangle of tan lego pieces

The LEGO canvas is 30 studs x 46 studs, which is equal to circa 24 x 37 cm; about half the dimensions of the actual painting. The ratio of the portrait is almost right, but would be closer if the LEGO painting was two studs wider.


a range of blue and grey lego angular pieces being applied

First we paint the background with a light aqua sky and mountains. Tiles and plates with a 45° cut try to create a 3D-effect, which works with the mountain on the left, but sometimes feels scattered in this scale.


different colours of angled lego pieces being attached

On the right-hand side the indication of a path is built that leads into the mountain landscape which will develop further as it gets built over.


a mostly flat surface of different colour lego pieces, but a layer of pieces are higher than the rest

The artwork starts in 2D but then develops into the third dimension and becomes thicker.


detail of a lego frame, showing plus-shaped holes in the side

1 x 2 Technic bricks will later enable the frame and picture to be connected to form a solid unit.


a dense complex construction of brown lego pieces. One tile which is a lighter colour has been attached sideways to make a line through the small construction.

One of the very few SNOT-usage exceptions is at the top of Mona Lisa's hair. The parting of her hair is recreated with a medium nougat 1x2 tile and, of course, has to be at a very specific position to look right on her slightly turned face.


Mona Lisa Lego set under construction. The face is incomplete

The build then continues with more layering and the mysterious lady slowly takes on more shape.


closeup of blank mona lisa lego face during construction

Sometimes the instructions try to recreate the art of painting by getting closer to the final colour with each layer of plates. This might not be necessary but it does let you feel more like an artist while building.


a small light pink wedge shaped lego subassembly is attached to a larger flat model using a hinge to set it at a gentle slope

The slightly angled décolleté fills the gap; a clever and surprisingly smooth technique. 


a brown lego inverted slope is attached sideways to make a triangular wedge shape

A further great usage of pieces is the 1x3 inverted slope, which works around this specific wedge plate not existing. 


close up of differently coloured diagonal sections of a lego model fitting perfectly side by side

The combination with the dark brown wedge plate taught me how well these two pieces fit together.


Arm of Mona Lisa lego model under construction. A white hinge plate is embedded in the arm, ready for hand pieces to be attached at an angle

Another elaborate detail are the hands, where the fingers of the right hand are built separately.


Hand of the lego mona lisa being constructed

The little finger, ring finger and middle finger are attached in one unit at a 45° angle, while the index finger gets its own treatment.


the mona lisa lego set almost complete: close up of the face with no mouth yet

The final "brush stroke" is the face, which is the reason for most of the light nougat colour-changes. In terms of building techniques, there isn't anything special to mention, but the recreation of her face gives more than enough to talk about.

The finished art

There she stands, the Mona Lisa. 

Mona Lisa Lego Art set on display

The LEGO version of the most popular painting in the world. While I haven't had the chance to glimpse the original in Paris, the build is instantly recognizable and conveys a seriousness that seems worthy of a museum; especially with its golden frame.


Mona Lisa Lego set next to the original painting
Right: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

However, in a direct comparison with the original, the colours are the first thing that catches the eye. But we have to keep in mind that this greenish and darker shade comes from its more than 500 years of age and we don't know exactly what colours the painting originally had. This allows The LEGO Group to justify its own version, which is probably a good idea as there would not have been the exact LEGO colours to recreate the painting's current look.


A pattern of black lego pieces on top of other black lego pieces, just below the arm of lego mona lisa at the base of the picture

While building, I wondered what the three black tiles at the bottom represent, but that became clearer when I noticed the chair on the original.


closeup of the completed lego mona lisa set

Leonardo employed a technique called "sfumato," which involves the delicate blending of colours and tones to create soft transitions between light and shadow, something that is quite the opposite of how building with LEGO colours works. Still, the set tries to mimic that.


close up of the hands of the mona lisa lego set

One example are the hands, where the lower sections are more in the shadow and therefore use a darker shade. Even though light nougat and warm tan are very close on the LEGO colour spectrum, it creates a hard line which looks unnatural. 


close up of the face of mona lisa lego set completed

The biggest controversy has been about the face, which received some harsh comments when the set was revealed. What I like about it is the way the curved slopes on the left and the warm tan shadows on the right create a 3D-effect. But what I don't like is the square shadow on the forehead and the blocky nose. The nose specifically destroys some of the immersion in the work, though I wouldn't know how to make it better.


extreme close up of completed face of lego mona lisa

One of the biggest mysteries about the Mona Lisa is her smile, which the printed piece does not capture very well. It feels like the corners of the mouth would need to extend to the pieces on the left and right, but that's an impossible print.

As for the printed eyes ,I'm pretty happy with them and they create a bit of a following effect when you hang the painting on your wall. 

the completed mona lisa lego face but the two pieces printed with her eyes have been replaced with unprinted versions, but she still has a smile.

Surprisingly, LEGO also includes both eye elements unprinted if you like that better. But the mouth remains.

Conclusion

Did we need a LEGO version of the Mona Lisa? Perhaps not, but here it is; either to hang on your wall or, like so many works of art, to use as a conversation starter. Technically, it's not badly made, but it's still an interpretation that doesn't come close to the original in every aspect.

Another option is to make yourself smile – this set is full of interesting recolours and a jump start for your collection of warm tan pieces. With that, Leonardo da Vinci's motivation to paint the Mona Lisa has finally been revealed: it was to give us 36 recolours to inspire new inventors and artists in the long run.

READ MORE:  LEGO® Wednesday: October sets available to pre-order

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1 comment:

  1. Ooh, the Medium Nougat heart plate is a pleasant surprise to me — hadn't noticed it in the official images since it's tiled over in the final build!

    I also love that even with colors like Warm Tan still only used for skin tones, sets like this and certain BrickHeadz continue to provide us with useful building elements in that color. It's a perfect color for representing certain types of hardwood floors and furniture such as oak which are often darker than Brick Yellow, lighter than Sand Yellow, and less orange-ish than the Nougat family of colors.

    That photo of the triangle tiles really showcases how beneficial this increased range of earth tones can be! And your photos of the Dark Brown pieces in particular have me craving dark chocolate all of a sudden…

    Good review overall! It's definitely exciting that the LEGO Art theme has been expanding beyond simple 2D "pop art" mosaics into various sorts of artwork that one might not normally think possible in LEGO (and providing us with plenty of interesting parts and building techniques in the process). I think the designers did a very impressive job here with the low-relief sculpting/contouring and the subtle color gradations. And I'm certainly eager to see what else the LEGO Art team might come up with in the future!

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