Madam, - I am sure that Gemma Tipton (Weekend Review, February 18th) accepts the daftness of surveys to discover what the multitude regard as the greatest painting in Britain or any other land. Paintings are made by individuals for other individuals in a culture that believes in individuals. What is greatness? Do people now believe in greatness? A real problem, I suggest.
Possibly more to the point is the humanity people find in works of art. It is difficult to lavish love on works that are humanly neutral - like most "abstracts" - while works such as Van Gogh's or Rembrandt's will always call from a passion to a similar passion. But, through no fault of Leonardo's, the popularity of Mona Lisa, I agree, is pretty inane. - Yours, etc,
PATRICK PYE, Piperstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24.