more on guarnello guarnello m f both a kind of linen or cotton textile and the feminine garment constructed from such a fabric the guarnello rascia or saia is the standard form of dress for angels it is worn by children as a simple washable garment and possibly also by pregnant women there are also examples of guarnelli listed under items of male clothing dress in renaissance italy by jacqueline herald humanities press nj quoted here the coarse overdress for working women definition is from the world of renaissance florence by francesco adorno translated by w darwell giunti isbn page this site says a loose sheer overdress worn over a regular dress was used at home and after birth hence very few depictions of such garbs exist some has argued that it is not too unlike the sheer chemise like garbs botticelli's three graces wears in his primavera but it can also be seen in his portrait of smeralda brandini in london that may also be following herald which is listed as one of the sources the fabric is also translated as fustian which would seem to be the coarser variety and here's the kicker an article in the globe and mail quoted with the crucial next line here says mona lisa had recently given birth to a baby a team of canadian and french scientists announced tuesday so her mysterious smile may have expressed the weary joy of a mother with a newborn using infrared technology that allowed them to see beneath a layer of varnish the researchers found that leonardo da vinci's model had a gauzy layer over her dress they say was typically worn by pregnant women of the time or mothers who had recently given birth the filmy robe was called a guarnello