LEGO Says ‘Oui’ To History With Intricate ‘Mona Lisa’ & Notre Dame Sets

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LEGO is working up a pas de deux of Parisian delight with not one, but two new sets that let you build cultural icons of the City of Lights right in your living room.

Here, builders will be greeted by one of the most recognizable faces in the art world, the Mona Lisa, thanks to a faithful LEGO Art Mona Lisa replica that reimagines the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece in 3D.

The finished piece is noticeably bluer than the painting sitting in the Louvre as it purposefully reflects the original hues used by the Italian polymath—offering a good-as-new glimpse into the artwork’s appearance over 500 years ago, before time altered its appearance.

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Remarkably, the sculpture uses 1,503 LEGO elements—alluding to the year da Vinci started on the portrait.

Image via LEGO

Image via LEGO

Measuring over 17 inches high and 11.5 inches wide, this 3D interpretation includes special features like interchangeable pieces for the eyes, allowing for a standard or abstract representation of the famous gaze. Like the painting, the set can also be hung on the wall, drawing focus to the brick-made sitter with a detachable, drum-lacquered gold frame.

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Art aficionados can tune into the accompanying LEGO Art Podcast episode, launching on October 1, that features discussions on the Mona Lisa’s timeless appeal with guests like Dr Francesca Borgo, professor of art history at the University of St Andrews; ArtCurious podcast host Jennifer Dasal; and the model’s designer, Milan Madge.

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On the architectural side, LEGO has unveiled the LEGO Architecture Notre-Dame de Paris set, perfect for those who admire classic landmarks. This build guides fans through the historical evolution of Notre-Dame, starting from the laying of the first stone in 1163, through the redesigns by architect Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, up to its state before the 2019 fire.

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This majestic kit—standing at 13 inches high, 8.5 inches wide, and 16 inches deep—consists of 4,383 pieces and allows for a detailed reconstruction, including the curved rear, bell towers, rose windows, central spire, and surrounding statues. Builders can remove the roof to view the interior columns and gothic arches, or detach the towers to peek inside.

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“We tried to bring [the Notre Dame Cathedral] to life by not only capturing its outward appearance, but the way and the stages in which the original was build,” explains LEGO Group designer Rok Žgalin Kobe. “We wanted LEGO fans to retrace the architectural journey and evolution of this landmark during its construction, to encourage a deeper appreciation for its real-life counterpart.”

Image via LEGO

Image via LEGO

The LEGO Art Mona Lisa and the LEGO Architecture Notre-Dame de Paris sets are now available for preorder, with the Leonardo da Vinci recreation officially launching on October 1 and the model of the architectural marvel hitting shelves on June 1.

[via LEGO]