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Mona Lisa (Italian: La Gioconda, French:La Joconde)

Leonardo da Vinci, circa 1503–1506

Oil on poplar

77 × 53 cm, 30 × 21 in

Musée du Louvre, Paris

'''Mona Lisa'', or La Gioconda is a 16th-century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo Da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance. Few other works of art have been subject to as much scrutiny, study, mythologizing and parody.^[1] The work is owned by the French government and hangs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France with the title Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo.^[2] Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... The Mona Lisa is a world-famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (560x864, 45 KB) MONA LISA 1509 Subject: The Mona Lisa Source: [1] File links The following pages link to this file: Painting Mona Lisa Talk:Mona Lisa Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/August Wikipedia:Selected anniversaries/August 22 Talk:August 22 Wikipedia:Selected... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ... Year 1503 (MDIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... 1506 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mona Lisa, Oil on wood panel painting by Leonardo da Vinci. ... The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) in Paris, France, is one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject, mostly a person, whereas the portrait is expected to show the essence of the subject. ... Mona Lisa, Oil on wood panel painting by Leonardo da Vinci. ... This article is about woody plants of the genus Populus. ... The Ghent Altarpiece: The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, interior view, 1432. ... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ... The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 14th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe. ... This article is about the political and administrative structures of the French government. ... This article is about the museum. ... This article is about the capital of France. ...

The painting is a half-length portrait and depicts a woman whose expression is often described as enigmatic.^[3][4] The ambiguity of the sitter's expression, the monumentality of the half-figure composition, and the subtle modeling of forms and atmospheric illusionism were novel qualities that have contributed to the painting's continuing fascination.^[5]

Historical context

Main article: Leonardo da Vinci

Self-portrait by Leonardo da Vinci. Executed in red chalk sometime between 1512 and 1515.

Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503 (during the Italian Renaissance) and, according to Vasari, "after he had lingered over it four years, left it unfinished...."^[6] He is thought to have continued to work on it for three years after he moved to France and to have finished it shortly before he died in 1519.^[7] Leonardo took the painting from Italy to France in 1516 when King François I invited the painter to work at the Clos Lucé near the king's castle in Amboise. The King bought the painting for 4,000 écus and kept it at Fontainebleau, where it remained until given to Louis XIV. Louis XIV moved the painting to the Palace of Versailles. After the French Revolution, it was moved to the Louvre. Napoleon I had it moved to his bedroom in the Tuileries Palace; later it was returned to the Louvre. During the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871) it was moved from the Louvre to a hiding place elsewhere in France. “Da Vinci” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (420 × 659 pixel, file size: 67 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Leonardo da Vinci was a genius from the Renaissance period. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (420 × 659 pixel, file size: 67 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Leonardo da Vinci was a genius from the Renaissance period. ... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ... Francis I of France (French: François Ier) (September 12, 1494 – March 31, 1547), called the Father and Restorer of Letters (le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres), was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547. ... The mansion Clos Lucé and garden Clos Lucé is a mansion in Amboise, France, located 500 meters from the Royal Château dAmboise, to which it is connected by an underground passageway. ... Château dAmboise. ... The term écu may refer to one of several French coins. ... The central range of Fontainebleau The Royal Château of Fontainebleau (in the Seine-et-Marne département), the largest of the French royal châteaux, introduced to France the Italian Mannerist style in interior decoration and in gardens, and transformed them in the translation. ... Louis XIV redirects here. ... Hall of Mirrors redirects here. ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (born Napoleone di Buonaparte, changed his name to Napoléon Bonaparte)[1] (15 August 1769; Ajaccio, Corsica – 5 May 1821; Saint Helena) was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... Tuileries Palace before 1871 - View from the Louvre courtyard The Tuileries Palace stood in Paris, France, on the right bank of the River Seine until 1871, when it was destroyed. ... Combatants Second French Empire North German Confederation allied with South German states (later German Empire) Commanders Napoleon III François Achille Bazaine Patrice de Mac-Mahon, duc de Magenta Otto von Bismarck Helmuth von Moltke the Elder Strength 400,000 at wars beginning 1,200,000 Casualties 150,000...

Mona Lisa was not well-known until the mid-19th century when artists of the emerging Symbolist movement began to appreciate it, and associated it with their ideas about feminine mystique. Critic Walter Pater, in his 1867 essay on Leonardo, expressed this view by describing the figure in the painting as a kind of mythic embodiment of eternal femininity, who is "older than the rocks among which she sits" and who "has been dead many times and learned the secrets of the grave." La mort du fossoyeur (The death of the gravedigger) by Carlos Schwabe is a visual compendium of Symbolist motifs. ... Walter Horatio Pater (August 4, 1839 - July 30, 1894) was an English essayist and literary critic. ...

Subject and title

Main article: Lisa del Giocondo

Mona Lisa is named for Lisa del Giocondo,^[8] the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant.^[9] Lisa was a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany who married Francesco del Giocondo, a successful silk merchant. The painting was commissioned for their new home and to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea.^[10] Lisa del Giocondo (June 15, 1479–July 15, 1542 or c. ... Lisa del Giocondo (June 15, 1479–July 15, 1542 or c. ... This article is about the city in Italy. ... For other uses, see Tuscany (disambiguation). ...

The sitter's identity was acertained at the University of Heidelberg in 2005 by a library expert who discovered a 1503 margin note written by Agostino Vespucci.^[8] Scholars had been of many minds, identifying at least four different paintings as the Mona Lisa^[11][12][13] and several people as its subject. Isabella of Naples or Aragon,^[14] Cecilia Gallerani,^[15] Costanza d'Avalos—who was also called the "merry one" or La Gioconda,^[13] Isabella d'Este, Pacifica Brandano or Brandino, Isabela Gualanda, Caterina Sforza, Leonardo's mother Caterina, and Leonardo himself had all been named the sitter.^[16][7] Today the subject's identity is held with certainty to be Lisa, which was always the traditional view.^[8] Affiliations: LERU Coimbra Group EUA Website: http://www. ... Isabella di Aragona (1470-1524), was born a Princess of Naples, granddaughter of king Ferrante I of Naples and daughter of the future king Alfonso II of Naples. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Isabella dEste painted by Titian. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

A margin note by Agostino Vespucci from October 1503 in a book in the library of the University of Heidelberg identifies Lisa del Giocondo as the subject of Mona Lisa.

The painting's title stems from a description by Giorgio Vasari in his biography of Leonardo da Vinci published in 1550, 31 years after the artist's death. "Leonardo undertook to paint, for Francesco del Giocondo, the portrait of Mona Lisa, his wife...."^[6] (one version in Italian: Prese Lionardo a fare per Francesco del Giocondo il ritratto di mona Lisa sua moglie).^[17] In Italian, ma donna from donna meaning my lady which became madonna, and its contraction mona. Mona is thus a polite form of address, similar to Madam or my lady in English. In modern Italian, the short form of madonna is usually spelled Monna, so the title is sometimes Monna Lisa, rarely in English and more commonly in Romance languages such as French and Italian. Affiliations: LERU Coimbra Group EUA Website: http://www. ... Giorgio Vasaris selfportrait Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (Arezzo, Tuscany July 3, 1511 - Florence, June 27, 1574) was an Italian painter and architect, mainly known for his famous biographies of Italian artists. ... Thirteenth century Madonna with Child in the Italo-Byzantine style. ... The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family that comprises all the languages that descend from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. ...

At his death in 1525, Leonardo's assistant Salai owned the portrait named in his personal papers la Gioconda which had been bequeathed to him by the artist. Italian for jocund, happy or jovial, Gioconda was a nickname for the sitter, a pun on the feminine form of her married name Giocondo and her disposition.^[9][18] In French, the title La Joconde has the same double meaning.

Aesthetics

Detail of Lisa's hands, her right hand resting on her left hand. Leonardo chose this gesture rather than a wedding ring to depict Lisa as a virtuous woman and faithful wife.^[19]

Leonardo used a pyramid design to place the woman simply and calmly in the space of the painting. Her folded hands form the front corner of the pyramid. Her breast, neck and face glow in the same light that softly models her hands. The light gives the variety of living surfaces an underlying geometry of spheres and circles. Leonardo referred to a seemingly simple formula for seated female figure: the images of seated Madonna, which were widely spread at the time. He effectively modified this formula in order to create the visual impression of distance between the sitter and the observer. The armrest of the chair functions as a dividing element between Mona Lisa and us. The woman sits markedly upright with her arms folded, which is also a sign of her reserved posture. Only her gaze is fixed on the observer and seems to welcome him to this silent communication. Since the brightly lit face is practically framed with various much darker elements (hair, veil, shadows), the observer's attraction to Mona Lisa's face is brought to even greater extent. Thus, the composition of the figure evokes an ambiguous effect: we are attracted to this mysterious woman but have to stay at a distance as if she were a divine creature. There is no indication of an intimate dialogue between the woman and the observer as is the case in the Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione (Louvre) painted by Raphael about ten years after Mona Lisa and undoubtedly influenced by Leonardo's portrait. Image File history File linksMetadata Mona_Lisa_detail_hands. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Mona_Lisa_detail_hands. ...

Detail of the background (right side)

The painting was among the first portraits to depict the sitter before an imaginary landscape. The enigmatic woman is portrayed seated in what appears to be an open loggia with dark pillar bases on either side. Behind her a vast landscape recedes to icy mountains. Winding paths and a distant bridge give only the slightest indications of human presence. The sensuous curves of the woman's hair and clothing, created through sfumato, are echoed in the undulating imaginary valleys and rivers behind her. The blurred outlines, graceful figure, dramatic contrasts of light and dark, and overall feeling of calm are characteristic of Leonardo's style. Due to the expressive synthesis that Leonardo achieved between sitter and landscape it is arguable whether Mona Lisa should be considered as a traditional portrait, for it represents an ideal rather than a real woman. The sense of overall harmony achieved in the painting — especially apparent in the sitter's faint smile — reflects Leonardo's idea of the cosmic link connecting humanity and nature, making this painting an enduring record of Leonardo's vision and genius. Image File history File linksMetadata Mona_Lisa_detail_background_right. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Mona_Lisa_detail_background_right. ... For the surname, see Loggia (surname). ... Detail of the face of Mona Lisa showing the use of sfumato, particularly in the shading around the eyes. ...

It is also notable that Mona Lisa has no visible facial hair at all - including eyebrows and eyelashes. Some researchers claim that it was common at this time for genteel women to pluck them off, since they were considered to be unsightly.^[20][21]. For modern viewers the missing eyebrows add to the slightly semi-abstract quality of the face.

The painting has been restored numerous times; X-ray examinations have shown that there are three versions of the Mona Lisa hidden under the present one. The thin poplar backing is beginning to show signs of deterioration at a higher rate than previously thought, causing concern from museum curators about the future of the painting. In the NATO phonetic alphabet, X-ray represents the letter X. An X-ray picture (radiograph) taken by Röntgen An X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength approximately in the range of 5 pm to 10 nanometers (corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 PHz...

Conservation

The Mona Lisa has survived for more than 500 years, and an international commission convened in 1952 noted that "the picture is in a remarkable state of preservation."^[22] This is partly due to the result of a variety of conservation treatments the painting has undergone. A detailed analysis in 1933 by Madame de Gironde revealed that earlier restorers had "acted with a great deal of restraint."^[22] Nevertheless, applications of varnish made to the painting had darkened even by the end of the 16th century, and an aggressive 1809 cleaning and re-varnish removed some of the uppermost portion of the paint layer, resulting in a washed-out appearance to the face of the figure. Despite the treatments, the Mona Lisa has been well-cared for throughout its history, and the 2004-05 conservation team was optimistic about the future of the work.^[22] Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. ...

The back of the Mona Lisa. The flexible oak frame (added 1951) and crossbraces (1970) help to keep the panel from warping further. The butterfly brace prevents the panel from further cracking

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Poplar panel

At some point in its history, the Mona Lisa was removed from its original frame. The unconstrained poplar panel was allowed to warp freely with changes in humidity, and as a result, a crack began to develop near the top of the panel. The crack extends down to the hairline of the figure. In the mid 18th to early 19th century, someone attempted to stabilize the crack by inlaying two butterfly shaped walnut braces into the back of the panel to a depth of about 1/3 the thickness of the panel. This work was skillfully executed, and has successfully stabilized the crack. Sometime between 1888 and 1905, or perhaps at some point during the picture's theft, the upper brace fell out. A later restorer glued and lined the resulting socket and crack with cloth.

The picture is currently kept under strict, climate controlled conditions in its bullet-proof glass case. The humidity is maintained at 50% ±10%, and the temperature is maintained between 18 and 21°C. To compensate for fluctuations in relative humidity, the case is supplemented with a bed of silica gel treated to provide 55% relative humidity.^[22] Beads of silica gel Silica gel is a granular, porous form of silica made synthetically from sodium silicate. ...

Frame

Because the Mona Lisa's poplar support expands and contracts with changes in humidity, the picture has experienced some warping. In response to warping and swelling experienced during its storage during World War II, and to prepare the picture for an exhibit to honor the anniversary of Da Vinci's 500th birthday, the Mona Lisa was fitted in 1951 with a flexible oak frame with beech crosspieces. This flexible frame, which is used in addition to the decorative frame described below, exerts pressure on the panel to keep it from warping further. In 1970, the beech crosspieces were switched to maple after it was found that the beech wood had been infested with insects. In 2004-05, a conservation and study team replaced the maple crosspieces with sycamore ones, and an additional metal crosspiece was added for scientific measurement of the panel's warp. The Mona Lisa has had many different decorative frames in its history, owing to changes in taste over the centuries. In 1906, the picture was given its current frame by the countess of Béarn, a Renaissance frame consistent with the historical period of the Mona Lisa. The edges of the painting have been trimmed at least once in its history to fit the picture into various frames, but none of the original paint layer has been trimmed.^[22]

Cleaning and touch-up

Museum visitors viewing the Mona Lisa through security glass (prior to 2005 move)

The first and most extensive recorded cleaning, revarnishing, and touch up of the Mona Lisa was an 1809 wash and re-varnish undertaken by Jean-Marie Hooghstoel, who was responsible for restoration of paintings for the galleries of the Musée Napoléon. The work involved cleaning with spirits, touch up of color, and revarnishing the painting. In 1906, Louvre restorer Eugène Denizard performed watercolor retouches on areas of the paint layer disturbed by the crack in the panel. Denizard also retouched the edges of the picture with varnish, to mask areas that had been covered initially by an older frame. In 1913, when the painting was recovered after its theft, Denizard was again called upon to work on the Mona Lisa. Denizard was directed to clean the picture without solvent, and to lightly touch up several scratches to the painting with watercolor. In 1952, the varnish layer over the background in the painting was evened out. After the second 1956 attack, restorer Jean-Gabriel Goulinat was directed to touch up the damage to Mona Lisa's left elbow with watercolor.^[22] Download high resolution version (574x750, 55 KB)Tourists viewing the Mona Lisa, reflected in the bulletproof glass covering the painting. ... Download high resolution version (574x750, 55 KB)Tourists viewing the Mona Lisa, reflected in the bulletproof glass covering the painting. ... Musée Napoléon may be: Musée Napoléon (Paris), a short-lived museum housing the cultural trophies of Napoleons campaigns, such as the Laocoon and his sons, housed in the Louvre palace Musée Napoléon (ÃŽle-dAix), museum on the life of Napoleon Category: ... For other uses, see Solvent (disambiguation). ...

In 1977, a new insect infestation was discovered in the back of the panel as a result of crosspieces installed to keep the painting from warping. This was treated on the spot with carbon tetrachloride, and later with an ethylene oxide treatment. In 1985, the spot was again treated with carbon tetrachloride as a preventive measure.^[22] R-phrases , , , , S-phrases , , , , , Flash point Non flammable Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ... “Oxirane” redirects here. ...

Infrared scan

In 2004 experts from the National Research Council of Canada conducted a three-dimensional infrared scan. Because of the aging of the varnish on the painting it has been difficult to discern details. Data from the scan and infrared reflectography were later used by Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' "Center for Research and Restoration" to argue that the transparent gauze veil worn by the sitter is a guarnello, typically used by women while pregnant or just after giving birth. A similar guarnello was painted by Sandro Botticelli in his Portrait of Smeralda Brandini (1470), depicting a pregnant woman (on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London). Furthermore, this reflectography revealed that Mona Lisa's hair is not loosely hanging down, but seems attached at the back of the head to a bonnet or pinned back into a chignon and covered with a veil, bordered with a sombre rolled hem. In the 16th century, hair hanging loosely down on the shoulders was the customary apanage of unmarried young women or prostitutes. This apparent contradiction with her status as a married woman has now been resolved. The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is Canadas leading organization for scientific research and development. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi, better known as Sandro Botticelli (little barrel) (March 1, 1445 – May 17, 1510) was an Italian painter of the Florentine school during the Early Renaissance (Quattrocento). ... The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the worlds largest and finest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4. ... A chignon is a temporary swelling left on a babys head after a Ventouse has been used to deliver the baby. ... The system of appanage has greatly influenced the territorial construction of France and explains the flag of many provinces of France. ...

Researchers also used the data to reveal details about the technique used and to predict that the painting will degrade very little if current conservation techniques are continued.^[23][24][25] During 2006, Mona Lisa underwent a major scientific observation that proved through infrared cameras she is wearing a bonnet and clenching her chair (something that Leonardo decided to change as an afterthought).^[26]

Display

On April 6, 2005—following a period of curatorial maintenance, recording, and analysis—the painting was moved to a new location within the museum's Salle des États. It is displayed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled enclosure behind bullet proof glass.^[27] About 6 million people view the painting at the Louvre each year.^[7] is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Theft and vandalism

Vacant wall in the Salle Carré, Louvre

The Mona Lisa painting now hangs in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. The painting's increasing fame was further emphasized when it was stolen on August 21, 1911. The next day, Louis Béroud, a painter, walked into the Louvre and went to the Salon Carré where the Mona Lisa had been on display for five years. However, where the Mona Lisa should have stood, he found four iron pegs. Béroud contacted the section head of the guards, who thought the painting was being photographed for marketing purposes. A few hours later, Béroud checked back with the section head of the museum, and it was confirmed that the Mona Lisa was not with the photographers. The Louvre was closed for an entire week to aid in investigation of the theft. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is about the museum. ... Art theft is the stealing of high-profile art. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

French poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who had once called for the Louvre to be "burnt down," came under suspicion; he was arrested and put in jail. Apollinaire indicated towards his friend Pablo Picasso, who was also brought in for questioning, but both were later exonerated.^[28] Guillaume Apollinaire Guillaume Apollinaire (August 26, 1880 – November 9, 1918) was a poet, writer, and art critic. ... This article is about the museum. ... Picasso redirects here. ...

At the time, the painting was believed to be lost forever, and it would be two years before the real thief was discovered. Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia stole it by entering the building during regular hours, hiding in a broom closet and walking out with it hidden under his coat after the museum had closed.^[18] Peruggia was an Italian patriot who believed da Vinci's painting should be returned to Italy for display in an Italian museum. Peruggia may have also been motivated by a friend who sold copies of the painting, which would skyrocket in value after the theft of the original. After having kept the painting in his apartment for two years, Peruggia grew impatient and was finally caught when he attempted to sell it to the directors of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence; it was exhibited all over Italy and returned to the Louvre in 1913. Peruggia was hailed for his patriotism in Italy and only served a few months in jail for the crime.^[28] Vincenzo Peruggia, the man who stole the Mona Lisa in 1911 (police photograph) Vincenzo Peruggia (1881 - 1947) is the man who stole the Mona Lisa. ... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ... The Uffizi Gallery (Italian Galleria degli Uffizi) is a palace or palazzo in Florence, holding one of the most famous museums in the world. ... This article is about the city in Italy. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

During World War II, the painting was again removed from the Louvre and taken safely, first to Château d'Amboise, then to the Loc-Dieu Abbey and finally to the Ingres Museum in Montauban. In 1956, the lower part of the painting was severely damaged when a vandal doused the canvas with acid.^[29] On December 30 of that same year, Ugo Ungaza Villegas, a young Bolivian, damaged the painting by throwing a rock at it. This resulted in the loss of a speck of pigment near the left elbow, which was later painted over. The painting is now covered with bulletproof security glass. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... it doesnt exist ... Loc-Dieu Abbey is a cistercian abbey located near Martiel, 9 km west from Villefranche-de-Rouergue, in the department of Aveyron in France. ... The Musée Ingres (Ingres Museum) is located in Montauban, France. ... Montauban (Montalban in Occitan) is a town and commune of southwestern France, préfecture (capital) of the Tarn-et-Garonne département, 31 miles north of Toulouse. ... is the 364th day of the year (365th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Republic of Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America. ...

Fame

Historian Donald Sassoon cataloged the growth of the painting's fame. During the mid-1800s, Théophile Gautier and the Romantic poets were able to write about Mona Lisa as a femme fatale because Lisa was an ordinary person. Mona Lisa "...was an open text into which one could read what one wanted; probably because she was not a religious image; and, probably, because the literary gazers were mainly men who subjected her to an endless stream of male fantasies." During the 20th century, the painting was stolen, an object for mass reproduction, merchandising, lampooning and speculation, and was reproduced in "300 paintings and 2,000 advertisements".^[30] The subject was described as deaf, in mourning,^[31] toothless, a "highly-paid tart", various people's lover, a reflection of the artist's neuroses, and a victim of syphilis, infection, paralysis, palsy, cholesterol or a toothache.^[30] Scholarly as well as amateur speculation assigned Lisa's name to at least four different paintings^[32] and the sitter's identity to at least ten different people.^[33] Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier (August 30, 1811 – October 23, 1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and literary critic. ... Romantics redirects here. ... Convicted spy Mata Hari made her name synonymous with femme fatale during WWI. A femme fatale (plural: femmes fatales) is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. ...

Crowd in front of Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Visitors generally spend about 15 seconds viewing the Mona Lisa.^[34]

Until the 20th century, Mona Lisa was one among many and certainly not the "most famous painting"^[35] in the world as it is termed today. Among works in the Louvre, in 1852 its market value was 90,000 francs compared to works by Raphael valued at up to 600,000 francs. In 1878, the Baedeker guide called it "the most celebrated work of Leonardo in the Louvre". Between 1851 and 1880, artists who visited the Louvre copied Mona Lisa roughly half as many times as certain works by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Antonio da Correggio, Paolo Veronese, Titian, Jean-Baptiste Greuze and Pierre Paul Prud'hon.^[30] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 341 KB) Summary Horde of tourists in front of Mona Lisa. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 341 KB) Summary Horde of tourists in front of Mona Lisa. ... This article is about the museum. ... Karl Baedeker (not Baedecker) (3 November 1801 - 4 October 1859) was a publisher whose company set the standard for authoritative guidebooks for tourists. ... Murillo Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (Seville, December 31, 1617 - Cádiz, April 3, 1682) was a Spanish painter, one of the most important figures in Baroque painting in Spain. ... Antonio Allegri da Correggio. ... The Feast in the House of Levi (1573), one of the largest canvases of the 16th century. ... Also see: Titian (disambiguation). ... Jean-Baptiste Greuze (21 August 1725 – 4 March 1805) was a French painter. ... Pierre Paul Prudhon (1758 - 1823) was a French Romantic painter. ...

Prior to the 1962–1963 tour, the painting was assessed for insurance purposes at $100 million. According to the Guinness Book of Records, this makes the Mona Lisa the most valuable painting ever insured. As an expensive painting, it has only recently been surpassed (in terms of actual dollar price) by three other paintings, the Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt, which was sold for $135 million (£73 million), the Woman III by Willem de Kooning sold for $137.5 million in November of 2006, and most recently No. 5, 1948 by Jackson Pollock sold for a record $140 million on November 2, 2006. Although these figures are greater than that which the Mona Lisa was insured for, the comparison does not account for the change in prices due to inflation -- $100 million in 1962 is approximately $670 million in 2006 when adjusted for inflation using the US Consumer Price Index.^[36] Suresh Joachim, minutes away from breaking the ironing world record at 55 hours and 5 minutes, at Shoppers World, Brampton. ... This is a list of the highest prices paid for paintings. ... Adele Bloch-Bauer II, Gustav Klimt (1912) Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a painting by Gustav Klimt completed in 1907. ... Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918) was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Art Nouveau (Vienna Secession) movement. ... Woman III is a painting done by abstract expressionist painter Willem de Kooning. ... Willem de Koonings Woman V (1952-53), National Gallery of Australia Willem de Kooning (April 24, 1904 – March 19, 1997) was an abstract expressionist painter, born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. ... No. ... Controversy swirls over the alleged sale of No. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Speculation about the painting

Main article : Speculation about Mona Lisa

Although the sitter has traditionally been identified as Lisa de Giocondo, a lack of definitive evidence has long fueled alternative theories, including the possibility that Leonardo used his own likeness. However, on January 14, 2008, German academics of Heidelburg University made public a finding that corroborates the traditional identification: dated notes scribbled into the margins of a book by its owner on October 1503 established Lisa de Giocondo as the model for the painting.^[37]

Other aspects of the painting which have been subject to speculative ideas are the original size of the painting, whether there were other versions of it, and various explanations for how the effect of an enigmatic smile was achieved.

References in visual art

L.H.O.O.Q. by Marcel Duchamp, 1919

The avant-garde art world has also taken note of the undeniable fact of the Mona Lisa's popularity. Because of the painting's overwhelming stature, Dadaists and Surrealists often produce modifications and caricatures. In 1919, Marcel Duchamp, one of the most influential Dadaists, made a Mona Lisa parody by adorning a cheap reproduction with a moustache and a goatee, as well as adding the rude inscription L.H.O.O.Q., when read out loud in French sounds like "Elle a chaud au cul" (translating to "she has a hot ass" as a manner of implying the woman in the painting is in a state of sexual excitement and availability). This was intended as a Freudian joke, referring to Leonardo's alleged homosexuality. According to Rhonda R. Shearer, the apparent reproduction is in fact a copy partly modelled on Duchamp's own face.^[38] Salvador Dalí, famous for his pioneering surrealist work, painted Self portrait as Mona Lisa in 1954. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Marcel Duchamp (July 28, 1887 – October 2, 1968) was an influential French/American artist. ... Marcel Duchamp (pronounced ) (July 28, 1887 – October 2, 1968) was a French artist (he became an American citizen in 1955) whose work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post-World War II Western art, and whose advice to modern art collectors helped shape the tastes of the... A work similar to Marcel Duchamps Fountain Avant garde (written avant-garde) is a French phrase, one of many French phrases used by English speakers. ... DaDa is a concept album by Alice Cooper, released in 1983. ... Max Ernst. ... For the book of comics by Daniel Clowes, see Caricature (Daniel Clowes collection). ... Marcel Duchamp (pronounced ) (July 28, 1887 – October 2, 1968) was a French artist (he became an American citizen in 1955) whose work and ideas had considerable influence on the development of post-World War II Western art, and whose advice to modern art collectors helped shape the tastes of the... In contemporary usage, a parody (or lampoon) is a work that imitates another work in order to ridicule, ironically comment on, or poke some affectionate fun at the work itself, the subject of the work, the author or fictional voice of the parody, or another subject. ... Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, 1st Marquis of Púbol (May 11, 1904 – January 23, 1989), was a Spanish surrealist painter of Catalan descent born in Figueres, Catalonia (Spain). ...

In 1963 Andy Warhol created serigraph prints of the Mona Lisa, in an effort to reduce her gravity to that of a disposable modern icon; to a similar cultural stature of the modern celebrities Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley. A later reproduction of the Mona Lisa was discovered painted onto a hillside near Newport, Oregon on August 15th, 2006. It was created by artist Samuel Clemens using a tarp stencil and water-based paint. ^[39] Andrew Warhola (August 6, 1928 — February 22, 1987), better known as Andy Warhol, was an American artist who was a central figure in the movement known as Pop art. ... Screen-printing, also known as silkscreening or serigraphy, is a printmaking technique that creates a sharp-edged single-color image using a stencil and a porous fabric. ... Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortensen;[1] June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe award winning[2] American actress, singer, model, Hollywood icon,[3] Cultural icon, beauty ideal,[4] fashion icon,[5] pop icon and sex symbol. ... Elvis redirects here. ... Newport is a city located in Lincoln County, Oregon, USA. It was incorporated in 1882, though the name dates back to the establishment of a post office in 1868. ...

References

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Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) is an American media company best known as the publisher of its namesake, The New York Times. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 159th day of the year (160th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... “TIME” redirects here. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... The History Workshop is a movement founded by Raphael Samuel. ... Oxford University Press (OUP) is a highly-respected publishing house and a department of the University of Oxford in England. ... ISSN, or International Standard Serial Number, is the unique eight-digit number applied to a periodical publication including electronic serials. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 286th day of the year (287th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 280th day of the year (281st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Sources

• Zöllner, Frank (1993). "Leonardo's Portrait of Mona Lisa del Giocondo" (PDF). Gazette des Beaux-Arts 121 (S.): print 115–138. Gazette des Beaux-Arts via Virtual Library for Art History (arthistoricum.net) ART-Dok, via University Library of Heidelberg. ISSN 0016-5530. Retrieved on 2007-10-09.

ISSN, or International Standard Serial Number, is the unique eight-digit number applied to a periodical publication including electronic serials. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Visual arts Portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mona Lisa

• Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. Musée du Louvre. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
• "Why is Mona Lisa so famous?", a video commentary
• Mega Mona Lisa, a large Mona Lisa fan site
• Theft of the Mona Lisa, from the PBS website for Treasures Of The World
• Aging Mona Lisa worries Louvre, an April 2004 BBC article
• The Mona Lisa, another BBC article
• The Mona Lisa photos & photos from Louvre
• Mona Lisa (zoomable version)
• Leonardo da Vinci, Gallery of Paintings and Drawings
• Unmasking the Mona Lisa: Expert claims to have discovered da Vinci's technique
• Who is Mona Lisa? Historical Facts versus Conjectures
• Mona Lisa's voice simulated
• "Mona Lisa had a makeover, 3D images reveal", Cosmos magazine, September 2006
• Mona Lisa replicated in later art

v • d • e Leonardo da Vinci
Key: Entirely by Leonardo · By Leonardo and other artists · Authorship disputed · †Lost
Paintings	†Medusa · Tobias and the Angel (1470–1480) · The Baptism of Christ (1472–1475) · The Annunciation (c.1475–1480) · Ginevra de' Benci (1475) · The Madonna of the Carnation (c. 1478–1480) · The Benois Madonna (c.1478–1480) · St. Jerome in the Wilderness (c.1480) · The Adoration of the Magi (1481) · The Virgin of the Rocks (c. 1483–1486) · The Holy Infants Embracing (c. 1486–1490) · Lady with an Ermine (1488–1490) · Portrait of a Musician (1490) · Madonna Litta (1490–91) · La Belle Ferronière (1495–1498) · The Last Supper (1498) · Madonna of the Yarnwinder (1501) · Mona Lisa (1503–1505/1507) · The Virgin of the Rocks (c. 1505–1508) · †The Battle of Anghiari (1505) · †Leda and the Swan (c. 1508) · The Virgin and Child with St. Anne (c. 1510) · St. John the Baptist (1513–16) · Bacchus (1515)
Works on paper	Vitruvian Man (1492) · The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist (c. 1499–1500)
Manuscripts	Codex Atlanticus · Codex Leicester · Codex Trivulzianus
Inventions	Robot · Viola organista
See also	Cultural depictions of Leonardo da Vinci · Leonardo da Vinci - scientist and inventor · Leonardo da Vinci's personal life

Image File history File links Portal. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Not to be confused with Public Broadcasting Services in Malta. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... “Da Vinci” redirects here. ... Caravaggios version of the subject, 1597. ... Tobias and the Angel is a painting finished around 1470-1480 by the Italian Renaissance painter Andrea del Verrocchio. ... The Baptism of Christ is a painting finished around 1475 by the Italian Renaissance painter Andrea del Verrocchio and his workshop. ... Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci, ca 1472-75. ... Ginevra de Benci was a lady of the aristocratic class in 15th century Florence, admired for her intelligence by Florentine contemporaries. ... The Madonna of the Carnation is a painting by Leonardo da Vinci created sometime around 1478-1480. ... The Benois Madonna Madonna and Child with Flowers, otherwise known as the Benois Madonna, could be one of two Madonnas started by Leonardo da Vinci, as he remarked himself, in October 1478. ... St Jerome in the Wilderness (c. ... The Adoration of the Magi (2007) is an early painting by Leonardo da Vinci. ... The Virgin of the Rocks and Madonna of the Rocks are terms used to describe two different paintings with almost identical compositions. ... Detail of the Holy Children, Jesus and John the Baptist, embracing. ... Lady with an Ermine, Czartoryski Museum, Kraków | title=Lady with an Ermine | artist=Leonardo da Vinci | year=1485 | type=oil on wood panel | height=54 | width=39 | museum=Czartoryski Museum]], Kraków}} The Lady with an Ermine is a 1485 painting by Leonardo da Vinci. ... Leonardo da Vinci. ... The Madonna Litta is one of the great paintings by Leonardo da Vinci. ... La belle Ferronière (Portrait of an Unknown Woman). ... The Last Supper (Italian: or LUltima Cena) is a 15th century mural painting in Milan created by Leonardo da Vinci for his patron Duke Ludovico Sforza and his duchess Beatrice dEste. ... The Madonna of the Yarnwinder (c. ... The Virgin of the Rocks and Madonna of the Rocks are terms used to describe two different paintings with almost identical compositions. ... The Battle of Anghiari is a lost painting by Leonardo DaVinci, which is still believed to be hidden somewhere in the Council Hall in Florence. ... Leda and the Swan is a motif from Greek mythology, in which Zeus came to Leda in the form of a swan. ... The Virgin and Child with St Anne is an oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci depicting St Anne, her daughter the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. ... Leonardo da Vinci. ... Bacchus is a painting often said to be by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (420 × 659 pixel, file size: 67 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Leonardo da Vinci was a genius from the Renaissance period. ... Leonardo da Vincis Vitruvian Man (1492). ... The Virgin and Child with St Anne and St John the Baptist, sometimes called The Burlington House Cartoon, is a full-size drawing by Giotto. ... Da Vinci redirects here. ... The Codex Leicester is a collection of largely scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci. ... The Codex Trivulzianus is a manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci that originally contained 62 sheets, but today only 55 remain. ... Leonardos robot refers to a humanoid automaton designed by Leonardo da Vinci around the year 1495. ... The viola organista was a musical instrument invented by Leonardo da Vinci. ... Leonardo da Vinci (15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519) was an Italian Renaissance painter and polymath who achieved legendary fame and iconic status within his own lifetime. ... Main article: Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was an Italian polymath, regarded as the epitome of the Renaissance Man, displaying skills in many and diverse areas. ... Leonardo da Vinci, (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519), is regarded as the archetypal Renaissance Man. ...