Peruggia was an Italian patriot who thought the painting should be returned to Italy for display. In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen by a Louvre employee named Vincenzo Peruggia. It's also a pun on the last name of Lisa's husband, Francesco del Giocondo. The English title “Mona Lisa" comes from the subject's name and the Italian word “mona" (a contraction of the phrase ma donna) that means “my lady." The Italian ( La Gioconda) and French ( La Joconde) names of the painting come from the Italian for “ jocund," which means happy or jovial. Historians believe Francesco commissioned the painting for their new home to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea. She was the wife of a wealthy silk merchant from Florence named Francesco del Giocondo. Millions of visitors come to Paris every year to see the enigmatic smile on Mona Lisa's lips.īut exactly who was Mona Lisa? The subject of the painting is believed to be Lisa Gherardini. It is on permanent display in Paris at the Louvre museum. Painted by da Vinci between 15, the Mona Lisa is an oil painting on a poplar panel.Īcquired by King Francis I of France, the Mona Lisa is now the property of France. Sometimes known as La Gioconda or La Joconde, the Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait of a woman by famous Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.Īccording to art experts, the Mona Lisa is the best known, most visited, and overall most famous work of art in the entire world. What notable, priceless paintings can you think of? Something by Van Gogh? Maybe one of Picasso's works?Ĭhances are, one of the first paintings you might have thought of was the Mona Lisa. When it comes to famous works of art, there's a very short list of the most well-known paintings of all time.
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