Lena Rivera
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is considered the most famous painting in the world. It is believed to have been painted between 1503 and 1519, and it now hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it has been since 1804. The painting's fame is attributed to various factors, including the mysterious identity of the woman depicted, the mythologization of Leonardo as a genius during the 19th century, and the theft of the painting in 1911, which brought it worldwide attention. The painting's novel qualities, such as the subject's enigmatic expression, the three-quarter-length pose, and the atmospheric illusionism, have also contributed to its popularity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artistic quality | The Mona Lisa is considered a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, showcasing several painterly techniques, including sfumato and aerial perspective. |
| Artistic influence | The painting influenced the works of Raphael and continues to inspire artists, writers, and scholars. |
| Historical context | Painted between 1503 and 1519, it was owned by French royalty for centuries and has a storied history of travels, evacuations during World Wars, and theft. |
| Innovation | The painting's 3/4 length pose and direct gaze deviate from traditional Italian portraiture, and its use of oil paints was experimental at the time. |
| Subject's identity | The identity of the subject is believed to be Lisa del Giocondo (née Gherardini), is not conclusively proven, adding to the mystery and intrigue surrounding the painting. |
| Artist's reputation | The growing interest in the Renaissance and Leonardo da Vinci's reputation as a genius scientist and inventor contributed to the painting's fame. |
| Location | Being housed in the Louvre Museum, one of the world's most visited museums, has significantly added to the painting's popularity and accessibility. |
| Theft and media frenzy | The theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 and the subsequent media attention brought it worldwide recognition, catapulting it into the public spotlight and popular culture. |
| Record holder | In 1962, the Mona Lisa became a Guinness World Records holder for the highest-known painting insurance valuation, and it is considered irreplaceable. |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's home at the Louvre
The Mona Lisa has been housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris since the turn of the 19th century. It is displayed in the museum's largest room, the Salle des États, alongside other Venetian masterpieces such as The Wedding Feast at Cana by Veronese. The painting is exhibited in a protective, temperature- and humidity-controlled glass case in solitary splendour in the centre of the room.
The painting arrived at the Louvre via a circuitous path. It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci between 1503 and 1519, likely intermittently, and it remained in his studio when he died in 1519. It was then acquired by King Francis I of France and became part of the royal collection. For centuries, the portrait was secluded in French palaces until the Revolution (1787–99) claimed the royal collection as the property of the people.
The Mona Lisa has been on display at the Louvre since 1797 or 1804, depending on the source. In the early 20th century, the painting was regarded as a repository for subjective exegeses and theories. Its global fame and popularity were further boosted by its theft in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, who attributed his actions to Italian patriotism. The theft and subsequent recovery in 1914 generated unprecedented publicity for an art theft, leading to worldwide media coverage and the creation of many cultural depictions.
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The sitter's mysterious smile and unproven identity
The identity of the woman in the painting has never been conclusively established, with the most popular theory being that she is Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo. This was first suggested in 1550 by artist biographer Giorgio Vasari, who wrote that "Leonardo undertook to paint, for Francesco del Giocondo, the portrait of Mona Lisa, his wife." The Italian name for the painting, "La Gioconda," is a pun on the feminine form of Lisa's married name, "Giocondo." However, no records of such a commission from Francesco exist, and the lack of definitive evidence has fuelled alternative theories.
Other speculations about the sitter's identity include that she may have been Leonardo's mother, Caterina, as suggested by Sigmund Freud, who believed that the famous half-smile was a recovered memory of Caterina's smile. Another theory is that the painting is a self-portrait, given the resemblance between the sitter's and the artist's facial features, as put forth by Lillian Schwartz of Bell Labs through digital facial analysis. Artist Susan Dorothea White interpreted the cranial architecture as more masculine in her anatomical artworks, supporting the theory that the model may have been male. Yet another theory suggests that there was no model at all, and Leonardo was painting an ideal woman.
The mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa has been the subject of numerous interpretations and scientific theories. In the 19th century, writers described the sitter as a mysterious seductress, with Théophile Gautier calling her a "strange being…her gaze promising unknown pleasures," and Walter Pater going so far as to label her a vampire. More recently, Professor Margaret Livingstone of Harvard University has argued that the smile is best seen from a distance or with peripheral vision, as it is mostly drawn in low spatial frequencies. Christopher Tyler and Leonid Kontsevich of the Smith-Kettlewell Institute attribute the changing nature of the smile to variable levels of random noise in the human visual system.
The ongoing fascination with the sitter's mysterious smile and unproven identity has undoubtedly contributed to the enduring popularity of the Mona Lisa. The sense of mystery and the enigma of the woman's expression have captured the imaginations of people worldwide, making the painting a source of endless speculation and intrigue.
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The myth of Leonardo as a genius
During the Renaissance, Leonardo was considered one of many polymaths, alongside humanists like Filippo Brunelleschi, Leon Battista Alberti, and Francesco i Giorgio Martini. However, in the 19th century, as interest in the Renaissance grew, Leonardo's reputation also grew, and he became popularly seen not only as a painter but also as a great scientist and inventor. This elevation of his status can be attributed to the Romantic movement and the increasing interest in the Renaissance, which created a cultural stereotype of the artist as a unique genius.
The myth of Leonardo's genius was further fuelled by the fragmentary nature of his archival record. Stephen J. Campbell, in his book "Leonardo da Vinci: An Untraceable Life", argues that the gaps in Leonardo's writings have been filled with speculative and outlandish theories that appeal to modern audiences, contributing to the creation of a semi-fictive "Da Vinci World". This has resulted in the perception of Leonardo as a solitary genius, ahead of his time, and relatable to modern audiences as an inspirational role model.
However, there is evidence that Leonardo was not a solitary figure but a team player who collaborated with other artists and craftsmen. His workshop was a busy, collaborative space where he transmitted ideas and techniques to his followers, the "Leonardeschi". Additionally, Leonardo was deeply rooted in the culture and knowledge of his time, and his achievements should be understood within this historical context.
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The theft of the painting in 1911
The theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 brought it worldwide attention and significantly contributed to its fame. The painting was stolen on 21 August 1911 from the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it had been installed at the turn of the 19th century.
The thief, later identified as Vincenzo Peruggia, had worked at the Louvre as a handyman and had even helped construct the Mona Lisa's protective frame. Peruggia entered the museum on the evening of 20 August, hiding in a storage closet until the following morning when the museum was closed and there were fewer people around. He then emerged, wearing a white apron like that worn by the museum's employees, and removed the painting from the wall. Peruggia wrapped the painting and tucked it under his arm before leaving the museum. He was able to exit through a locked service door with the help of a plumber who mistook him for an employee. Peruggia then hid the painting in his Paris apartment, keeping it under his bed.
The theft was not discovered until the following day when a painter arrived at the Louvre to create a copy of the Mona Lisa and found it missing. An extensive investigation was launched, with over 60 policemen and detectives scouring the Louvre for clues and questioning staff. Despite the scale of the investigation, the police struggled to find any promising leads. Two Germans, the poet Guillaume Apollinaire and the painter Pablo Picasso, were arrested and interrogated, but they were later exonerated.
Peruggia kept the painting hidden for two years, during which time he was questioned about the theft on two separate occasions. However, the police did not consider him a serious suspect. Finally, in December 1913, Peruggia attempted to sell the painting to an art dealer in Florence, Italy, using the alias "Leonard". He contacted Alfredo Geri, owner of an art gallery in Florence, claiming that he had stolen the Mona Lisa and wanted to repatriate it to Italy. Geri, along with Giovanni Poggi, director of the Uffizi, authenticated the painting and informed the police, who arrested Peruggia.
The media frenzy surrounding the theft and the large-scale police investigation brought the painting worldwide attention and helped it become one of the best-known artworks in the world, gaining considerable public interest. The notoriety received from newspaper headlines and the subsequent tour of the painting across Italy after its recovery further contributed to its fame.
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The Renaissance portrait's novel qualities
The Renaissance witnessed a shift from the abstract forms of the medieval period to more representational forms. This period saw the emergence of new subjects, reflecting the growing emphasis on the individual. Portraits, scenes from everyday life, and historical narratives became popular. The interest in humanism transformed artists into celebrities, with patrons from the growing mercantile class.
Renaissance portraits were rich in symbolic elements, with clothing and accessories denoting the sitter's social status or profession. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Titian captured the physical likeness and inner essence of their subjects, emphasising individual identity and social status. The three-quarter view, in which the sitter mostly turns towards the viewer, broke from the standard profile pose used in Italian art. This innovation in perspective created a sense of depth and space, enhancing the three-dimensional quality of the portraits.
Oil painting became a popular medium, allowing artists to create rich colours and fine details with smooth blends. Leonardo da Vinci used the sfumato technique, characterised by soft, hazy edges, to make his portraits more lifelike and mysterious. The Mona Lisa's enigmatic expression, subtle modelling of forms, and atmospheric illusionism are novel qualities that contributed to its fame. The unknown identity of the sitter added to the intrigue, allowing for various characterisations and interpretations.
The Renaissance focus on individual identity and expression is evident in the Mona Lisa's mysterious smile and the ongoing fascination with unraveling the mystery behind the portrait. The painting's home in the Louvre, one of the world's most-visited museums, has also contributed to its fame and recognition. The theft of the painting in 1911 and the media frenzy that followed brought it worldwide attention.
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Frequently asked questions
The media frenzy that followed the theft of the Mona Lisa brought it worldwide attention and catapulted it into the public spotlight.
The Mona Lisa's novel qualities include the subject's enigmatic expression, the monumentality of the composition, the subtle modelling of forms, and the atmospheric illusionism.
The Louvre, one of the world's most visited museums, added to the stature of the painting. Over 80% of Louvre visitors come specifically to see the Mona Lisa.
