Lena Rivera
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is arguably the world's most famous painting. The identity of the woman in the painting has been the subject of much speculation and debate. While there are several theories, the most widely accepted one is that the painting depicts Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo. The Italian name of the painting, La Gioconda, is the feminine form of her married name.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Lisa del Giocondo (née Gherardini) |
| Alternative Names | Lisa Gherardini, Monna Lisa, Madonna |
| Title of Painting | Mona Lisa (Italian: Monna or Monna Lisa; French: La Joconde) |
| Husband | Francesco del Giocondo (a Florentine silk or cloth merchant) |
| Children | Piero, Piera, Camilla, Marietta, Andrea, and Giocondo |
| Portrait Status | Unfinished |
| Portrait Medium | Oil on a white poplar panel |
| Portrait Size | 77 x 53 cm (30 x 20 7/8 in) |
| Portrait Owner | Government of France |
| Portrait Location | Louvre Museum, Paris, France |
| Portrait Fame | The painting's fame is partly due to its theft in 1911 and subsequent recovery in 1914 |
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What You'll Learn
Lisa del Giocondo, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo
The subject of the Mona Lisa is widely believed to be Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo. The painting is thought to have been commissioned by Francesco to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea, and the purchase of a new home.
Lisa del Giocondo was born Lisa Gherardini in 1480. At the age of 15, she married 29-year-old Francesco, becoming his second wife. Lisa's dowry was modest, consisting of a farm in Chianti valued at 400 florins, which may indicate that the Gherardini family was not particularly wealthy at the time. Lisa and Francesco went on to have six children together: Piero, Piera, Camilla, Marietta, Andrea, and Giocondo. Piera and Giocondo both died in infancy.
Lisa's husband, Francesco, was a cloth and silk merchant. The del Giocondo family was involved in all aspects of silk production, from the cultivation of mulberry trees to merchandising the final goods. Florentine silk was highly sought-after, and merchants such as Francesco were making large fortunes. Francesco was also a patron of the arts, commissioning works from artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Domenico Puligo, and Antonio di Donnino Mazzieri.
The Mona Lisa is believed to have been painted by Leonardo da Vinci between 1503 and 1506, although he may have continued working on it until as late as 1517. The painting is a half-length portrait of Lisa, set against a distant landscape. It is known for the subject's enigmatic expression and the subtle modelling of forms. Leonardo never gave the painting to the Giocondo family, and it was in his studio when he died in 1519. The painting was acquired by King Francis I of France and is now the property of the French Republic. It hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, attracting millions of visitors each year.
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The mysterious smile
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is arguably the most famous painting in the world. The painting's global popularity stems partly from its mysterious subject, whose identity has never been proven. The woman in the painting is traditionally believed to be Lisa del Giocondo, a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany, and the wife of Florentine silk or cloth merchant Francesco del Giocondo.
The painting's Italian title, La Gioconda, is the feminine form of Lisa's married name. In French, the painting is known as La Joconde, also derived from her married name. The name "Mona Lisa" is an Italian version of "Madame Lisa", a polite form of address similar to "Ma'am", "Madam" or "my lady" in English.
Lisa del Giocondo was 24 years old when Leonardo began her portrait in 1503, and she was 40 when he died in 1519. The painting was likely still unfinished at this point, as Leonardo may have continued working on it as late as 1517. It is thought that Francesco commissioned the painting to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea, and the purchase of their new home.
The identity of the woman in the painting has been the subject of much speculation and debate. While Lisa del Giocondo is the most widely accepted theory, some scholars argue that she was the subject of a different portrait by Leonardo, and that there are at least four other paintings referred to by artist biographer Giorgio Vasari as the Mona Lisa. Other theories suggest that the model was Leonardo's mother, Caterina, or a courtesan, or that the subject was someone else entirely, or even that the depiction was partially based on Leonardo himself.
Adding to the painting's intrigue is the subject's enigmatic expression, which has been described as both alluring and aloof. The mysterious smile has been interpreted in various ways, with Sigmund Freud suggesting that it emerged from Leonardo's memory—perhaps unconscious—of his mother's smile. The calm expression reflects the idea of a link connecting humanity and nature, and the painting has been described as a "living enigma", with the soul of the subject being present yet inaccessible.
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The painting's theft in 1911
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is believed to be a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo. The painting's alternative title, "La Gioconda", is derived from her husband's surname.
The Theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911
On the morning of August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. Three Italian handymen, dressed as museum workers, spent the night in an art supply closet and, in the early hours, lifted the painting, along with its frame and protective glass case, off the wall. They stripped the painting of its frame and case, covered it with a blanket, and carried it out of the museum. Vincenzo Peruggia, a former Louvre employee, wrapped the painting and smuggled it out, later hiding it in his Paris apartment. The theft was not discovered until the following day, when a painter arrived to create a copy of the artwork.
Peruggia's thumbprint was found on the glass securing the painting, and his fingerprints and photograph were already in police files due to a previous arrest. However, he was not initially considered as a suspect, and the police focused their investigation on museum staff and other workers. Peruggia hoped to sell the painting, but the heist attracted so much attention that the Mona Lisa became too famous to sell. After over two years of hiding the painting, Peruggia contacted an art gallery owner in Florence, Italy, seeking a reward for its return. The gallery owner, Alfredo Geri, and Giovanni Poggi, the director of the Uffizi Gallery, authenticated the painting and informed the police, leading to Peruggia's arrest.
The theft and the subsequent media frenzy transformed the Mona Lisa from a relatively unknown artwork to a global icon. The painting was exhibited throughout Italy following its recovery and then returned to the Louvre in 1913, where it has remained an object of fascination and pilgrimage.
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The identity of the sitter
Lisa del Giocondo was a Florentine noblewoman who lived from 1479 until around 1542; her exact date of death is unknown. She was a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany and married cloth merchant Francesco del Giocondo, who was likely wealthier than her own family. The couple lived a comfortable middle-class life and had six children together, although only one, Andrea, survived into adulthood.
It is believed that Francesco commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint his wife's portrait to celebrate the birth of their son and the purchase of a new home. Lisa was 24 when Leonardo began the portrait in 1503, and it was likely still unfinished when he died in 1519. The painting was never given to the Giocondo family and was acquired by King Francis I of France after Leonardo's death.
While the identity of Lisa del Giocondo is the most widely accepted theory, there have been other suggestions. Some scholars argue that the model may have been Leonardo's mother, Caterina, an interpretation put forth by Sigmund Freud, who believed that the Mona Lisa's smile was a memory of Caterina's smile. Another theory is that the painting depicts a courtesan, or that the subject's appearance was based on da Vinci himself.
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The painting's creation between 1503 and 1519
The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. The painting is believed to have been created between 1503 and 1519, with some sources stating that Leonardo may have continued working on it as late as 1517.
The earliest identification of the painting was provided by Renaissance art historian Giorgio Vasari in his 1550 biography of Leonardo. Vasari wrote about the magnificent portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, which he stated Leonardo worked on between 1503 and 1506. Many were skeptical of Vasari's account, but a 2005 discovery at the University of Heidelberg provided compelling new evidence that confirmed Vasari's assertion. A marginal note dated October 1503, written by Leonardo's contemporary Agostino Vespucci, praised Leonardo's skill and mentioned that he was working on a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo.
The painting was likely commissioned by Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo, the husband of Lisa del Giocondo. It is believed that the portrait was commissioned to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea, and the purchase of their new home. Lisa was 24 years old when Leonardo began her portrait, and it was still unfinished when he died in 1519. The painting was acquired by King Francis I of France after Leonardo's death and has remained in France ever since.
The Mona Lisa's fame is due to a combination of chance circumstances and the painting's inherent appeal. The sitter's mysterious smile and her unproven identity have made the painting a source of ongoing investigation and fascination. The painting has been the subject of numerous cultural depictions, including an opera, films, and songs, and has appeared in thousands of advertisements. It is now considered priceless, with a speculative value of over one billion dollars.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the lady in the Mona Lisa painting is thought to be Lisa del Giocondo, also known as Lisa Gherardini.
Lisa del Giocondo, or Lisa Gherardini, was a Florentine noblewoman and the wife of a Florentine silk or cloth merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. She was likely born in 1479 and died around 1542, although her exact date of death is unknown.
"Mona" is a polite form of address in Italian, similar to "ma'am" or "madam" in English. The painting is called the "Mona Lisa" as it is presumed to depict Lisa del Giocondo.
The Mona Lisa was painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. It is believed that Francesco del Giocondo commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to create a portrait of his wife.
