The Mona Lisa is described as having which type of compositional arrangement?

• A. Horizontal alignment
• B. Radial symmetry
• C. Pyramidal configuration
• D. Diagonal emphasis

Answer: (C)

Pyramidal configuration describes organizing the figure so that forms create a triangle, guiding the viewer’s gaze to a central focal point. In the Mona Lisa, the sitter is posed in a three‑quarter view, and the way her body and arms form a broad base with her head at the apex creates a strong triangular silhouette. The centered placement and the receding landscape behind her reinforce that triangular shape, giving the portrait a stable, balanced presence and a calm, contemplative feel that draws attention directly to her face. This differs from a horizontal alignment, which would emphasize a flat, level distribution; radial symmetry, which would imply circular balance around a central point; or diagonal emphasis, which would push the eye along a diagonal path rather than forming a steady pyramid.