The Mona Lisa Is Now A ZERO NET CARBON Artwork!

Rationale, CALCULATIONS AND TOTALS
(Note: These are not considered infallible. Further research and subsequent refinements will be rigorously pursued.)

Horses (Transportation):
Estimated 5 full years (24/7) of the use of one horse allows for transportation of the Mona Lisa painting from Italy to France, transportation of rare and local pigments and supplies, and transportation of Mona herself to and from studio, plus extra minor trips for various items/occasions.

5 years x 34.5 m3 = 172.5 m3 x 21[CDE factor] = 3,622.5 m3 = 2.46401957143 Metric tonnes of CO2.

Yearly methane emissions from equines average 23 to 27 m3 for saddle horses and 42 m3 for draught studs. In the case of the Mona Lisa calculations are based on an equal division between saddle (27 m3) and draught (42 m3) equine [42 - 27 m3 = 15 m3 ÷ 2 = 7.5 m3 + 27 m3 = 34.5 m3].

CDE factor refers to the Carbon Dioxide Equivalency. Methane is 21 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than Carbon Dioxide and must be factored as such.

Materials:
Accurate numbers are impossible here as Leonardo considered painting a gentlemen’s endeavor in contrast to the usual craft/guild approach of the day. This means he was not tied to a permanent studio with many apprentices. However, some is known, and based on my research so far the following items are estimated as explained:

Poplar Panel: All indications thus far are that it was air-dried; therefore only minor carbon released in the milling of the tree itself was considered a factor.

Paints/pigments/oils/drawing materials/etc.: Minor kiln (wood-fired) use, horse transportation of goods (see above), release of carbon from mining and other processes to create colors, and studio use of fires were considered as factors.

A cord of wood is a generous amount to cover material procurement and usage. A cord of dried red oak (heavier than poplar and most common woods) would be 1.75 tons and thus would generate 6,674 pounds of carbon dioxide when burned.

1 pound of CO2 = 0.2294 m3, therefore: 6,674 x 0.2294 = 1,531.0156 m3 = 1.04139472811 metric tonnes of CO2.

Totals:
Total estimated CO2 emissions from materials used in the making of the Mona Lisa are 1.05 metric tonnes.

Total estimated CO2 emissions from transportation (horses) used in the making of the Mona Lisa are 2.5 metric tonnes (rounded up).

Total estimated CO2 emissions from all factors in the making of the Mona Lisa are 3.55 metric tonnes.

Sources

• Giorgio Vasari: “Life of Leonardo da Vinci”, in The Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, 2nd edition 1568
• Cennino d’Andrea Cennini: Il Libro dell’Arte, translated as The Craftsman’s Handbook, originally published late 14th or early 15th century.
• Consultations with art historians with expertise on the period and the piece.
• Various methane and carbon production sites and entities.
• The National Institute for Agricultural Research [Institut National de la Recherché Agronomique]
• AEP (American Electric Power)
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
• Numerous energy conversion sites