Elena Rossi
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It was painted sometime between 1503 and 1519, when Leonardo was living in Florence, and now hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting's fame is partly due to its mysterious subject, who is often believed to be Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo, but this has never been proven. The identity of the sitter, along with the subject's enigmatic expression and smile, have made the painting a source of ongoing fascination and investigation. The painting's global popularity was also fuelled by its theft from the Louvre in 1911, generating unprecedented publicity for an art theft.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date painted | Between 1503 and 1519 |
| Painter | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Medium | Oil on poplar wood panel |
| Size | 77 x 53 cm (30 x 20 7/8 in) or 30 inches x 21 inches |
| Location | Louvre Museum, Paris, France |
| Owner | Government of France |
| Subject | Unknown; possibly Lisa del Giocondo, or one of several other women |
| Technique | Sfumato |
| Style | Renaissance |
| Theft | Stolen in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia; recovered in 1914 |
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What You'll Learn
The identity of the sitter
Lisa del Giocondo was a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany, and her husband was a wealthy silk merchant. The painting is thought to have been commissioned for their new home and to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea. However, some scholars argue that Lisa del Giocondo was the subject of a different portrait, and that there are at least four other paintings referred to by Vasari as the Mona Lisa.
Several other people have been proposed as the subject of the painting, including Isabella of Aragon, Cecilia Gallerani, Costanza d'Avalos, Duchess of Francavilla, Pacifica Brandano/Brandino, Isabella Gualanda, Caterina Sforza, Bianca Giovanna Sforza, and Salaì, Leonardo's assistant. Another theory is that the young woman in the picture is a mistress of Giuliano de' Medici, the ruler of the Republic of Florence.
Some historians have even suggested that the painting is a self-portrait of Leonardo, given the resemblance between the sitter's and the artist's facial features. Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud theorised that Leonardo imparted an approving smile from his mother, Caterina, onto the Mona Lisa.
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The painting's journey to the Louvre
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous portraits in the history of art. It is currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it has been since 1804. However, the painting's journey to the Louvre was not without its twists and turns.
After Leonardo da Vinci's death in 1519, the Mona Lisa was acquired by King Francis I of France, who invited da Vinci to France and bought the painting from him in 1518. The painting then became part of the royal collections and was exhibited at the Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV.
In 1797, the Mona Lisa found its permanent home in the Louvre Museum. However, its fame and popularity truly took off when it was stolen in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, a former Louvre employee. Peruggia, driven by Italian patriotism, intended to return the painting to Italy. The theft generated unprecedented publicity, and the painting was only recovered in 1914.
The publicity surrounding the theft brought the Mona Lisa to the attention of the general public, and it became a source of fascination and intrigue. Its enigmatic smile, optical effects created by the positioning of the eyes, and mysterious identity of the sitter all contributed to its popularity.
Today, the Mona Lisa is a must-see attraction at the Louvre Museum. It is displayed in the Salle des États, the largest room in the palace, where it continues to captivate and intrigue visitors from all over the world.
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The painting's theft in 1911
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It is believed that da Vinci began painting it in 1503 and likely worked on it until his death in 1519. The painting now hangs behind bulletproof glass in the Louvre Museum in Paris and has been a part of the museum's collection since 1804.
The 1911 Theft
The Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911 from the Louvre Museum on 21 August 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, a former Louvre employee. Peruggia, an Italian patriot, believed that the painting belonged in Italy and wanted to return it to his home country. He concealed the painting, which measured 53 cm x 77 cm, by wrapping it in a smock and tucking it under his arm as he left the museum. Peruggia was able to leave the museum through a locked service door with the help of a plumber who mistook him for an employee. The theft was not discovered until the following day when a painter who was going to copy the Mona Lisa found it missing.
The French police launched an extensive investigation, interviewing all permanent Louvre staff and even searching a ship in New York. Peruggia was eventually caught when he contacted Alfredo Geri, the owner of an art gallery in Florence, seeking a reward for the painting's return. Geri, along with Giovanni Poggi, the director of the Uffizi Gallery, authenticated the painting and informed the police, who arrested Peruggia at his hotel. The painting was recovered and exhibited all over Italy before being returned to the Louvre in 1913.
The theft and subsequent recovery of the Mona Lisa generated unprecedented publicity, with the story being reported worldwide. This led to a massive increase in public recognition of the painting and its transformation into an iconic artwork. The event also inspired numerous cultural depictions, including an opera, films, and songs.
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Leonardo's use of sfumato
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It was painted sometime between 1503 and 1519, while Leonardo was living in Florence. The painting is now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it has been since 1804.
Leonardo da Vinci was a master of the "sfumato" technique, which he used in the Mona Lisa. Sfumato is derived from the Italian word "sfumare", which means "to tone down" or "to evaporate like smoke". Sfumato is a painting technique used to soften the transition between colours, creating a blurred effect, as if mimicking an area beyond the focus of the human eye. Leonardo himself described the technique as "without lines or borders, in the manner of smoke or beyond the picture plane".
The sfumato technique was a significant development in Renaissance art, and Leonardo was its most prominent practitioner. Other notable artists who utilised sfumato include Correggio, Raphael, and Giorgione.
The mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa, achieved through the use of sfumato, has been a source of fascination and speculation for centuries. Some theories suggest that the smile was inspired by the memory of Leonardo's mother, Caterina, while others attribute it to the presence of musicians playing during the painting sessions.
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The mysterious smile
The identity of the woman in the painting is not definitively known, and this ambiguity adds to the intrigue surrounding her smile. The most widely accepted theory is that she is Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a Florentine merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. The title "Mona Lisa" is based on this presumption, as ""Monna"" or "Madonna" in Italian is a polite form of address for a woman, similar to "Madam" or "My Lady" in English. However, even this identity is uncertain, and other theories have been proposed, including that the model was Leonardo's mother, Caterina, or a mistress of Giuliano de' Medici, the ruler of the Republic of Florence.
The smile of the Mona Lisa has been described as restrained, joyful, and equivocal. It is said to represent the idea of happiness suggested by the word "gioconda" in Italian. Sigmund Freud theorized that Leonardo imparted an approving smile from his mother, Caterina, onto the Mona Lisa and other works. The optical effects created by the positioning of the woman's eyes and her smile give the impression that she is watching the viewer, adding to the sense of mystery.
Leonardo's use of the sfumato technique, which employs subtle gradations of light and shadow to model form, further enhances the enigmatic nature of the smile. The delicate veil, finely painted tresses, and careful rendering of folded fabric reveal Leonardo's studied observations and patience. The overall harmony of the composition, with the sensuous curves of the woman's hair and clothing echoed in the imaginary landscape behind her, contributes to the sense of mystery and calm.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mona Lisa is painted in oil on a poplar wood panel.
The identity of the subject of the Mona Lisa is unknown, but it is believed to be Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo. Other theories include that the model may have been Leonardo da Vinci's mother, Caterina.
The Mona Lisa is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where it has been since 1804.
