Mona Lisa: all about Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece

The Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda, is the most famous, studied and reproduced work of Western art. Created by Leonardo da Vinci, the painting, an oil painting on wood, is a cultural icon.
Painted between 1503 and 1506 — during the Italian Renaissance, therefore — the Mona Lisa is on permanent display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Characteristics of the work
The work measures approximately 77 x 53 cm. It portrays, in the foreground, a female figure with her hands crossed, with an introspective air and a discreet and enigmatic smile, interpreted in the most different ways by the spectators.
In the background, in the background, there is a distant and fictitious landscape, whose horizon line appears uneven, higher on the right.

The female figure is dressed in typically Renaissance clothes, fitting the beauty standard of the time. She has an almost transparent veil over her head that, according to historians, would then be used by pregnant women or women who have recently given birth.

Da Vinci's sfumato technique in painting creates a smoky, almost translucent appearance to the shapes and contours of the depicted figure, lending a sense of mystery and depth to the portrait.
Another technique used by the Renaissance genius is that of atmospheric perspective. This stylistic feature lends a sense of depth and distance to the background of the painting, with a mountainous landscape, a winding path and an arched bridge spanning a river.

The author, Leonardo da Vinci
The Mona Lisa is a special work of art for many historical and artistic reasons. Firstly, the painting was created by Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian artist, inventor and scientist of the Renaissance. He is recognized as one of the greatest geniuses in history. With remarkable skills in many areas, including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, mathematics, engineering and anatomy, he left a significant legacy in many areas of human knowledge.
Da Vinci is one of the most influential and productive artists of all time. His most famous works, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, are considered icons of world art and their impact on culture is still felt today.

Who was Mona Lisa?
Mona Lisa was not a real person, but the title of Leonardo da Vinci's work. The identity of the woman depicted in the painting is the subject of speculation and discussion, as there is no confirmation as to who she was.
Most experts believe that the model would have been Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a Florentine merchant, and that for this reason she was also known as La Gioconda.
Other theories about the identity of the model point to the Duchess of Milan, Isabella of Aragon, and even to Leonardo da Vinci himself, who would have performed a self-portrait dressed as a woman. However, none of these theories have been conclusively proven.

Curiosities about the work
• The painting is one of the most valuable works of art in existence, valued at over a billion dollars.
• The painting is often referred to as "the most famous woman in the world".
• Produced in Florence, Italy, the work was taken to France by da Vinci when he went to work in the court of King Francis I.
• Before being exhibited at the Louvre Museum, the work visited Fontainebleau and the Palace of Versailles. He was also in the chambers of Napoleon Bonaparte, who would be passionate about painting.
• The work was stolen from the Louvre in 1911. It disappeared for two years before being recovered in Italy. This episode helped to increase the painting's fame.
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