Mona Lisa

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Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Believed to be created between 1503-1506 in Florence, Italy, the Mona Lisa is now housed in the Louvre, where it has its very own room. Despite its immense popularity, the Mona Lisa is not exceptionally large in scale, measuring roughly 20" by 30" and painted in oil on poplar wood panel. She may look fairly plain, but the Mona Lisa has inspired countless scientific theories, parodies and reproductions. And, of course, the burning question, "Why is she smiling." This famous painting was stolen in 1911 by an employee of the Louvre, who reportedly wished to return the painting to Italy. The Mona Lisa was not recovered until two years later, when the thief tried to sell it to a collector.

The mystery behind Mona Lisa's smile

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The hidden mysteries of da Vinci's Mona Lisa

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Bones in Italian convent may reveal Mona Lisa's identity

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Who contributed more to art: Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo?

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Biography: Leonardo da Vinci

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A look at Leonardo da Vinci's personal life

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More About the Mona Lisa and Leonardo da Vinci

The Mona Lisa is also sometimes referred to as La Gioconda, because the model is believed to be the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a Florentine cloth merchant. "Gioconda" also translates to an idea of happiness in Italian, which could explain the Mona Lisa's emblematic smile.
The use of light and shadow that the Mona Lisa is known for is referred to as "sfumato" or "Leonardo's smoke."
The Mona Lisa is also unique in that it is considered the first half-length Italian portrait.
In addition to questions about the identity of the model and the Mona Lisa's famous smile, much mystery surrounds the early years of this famous painting. No one is sure who commissioned the painting, why Leonardo kept it, how long he kept it and how it ended up in the hands of the French royal family. Although it has been estimated that he finished the painting in 1506, even this is unclear.

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Quick Facts

Created: Between 1503-1506

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci

Medium: Oil on poplar wood panel

Size: 20 7/8" by 30" (or 77 cm by 53 cm)

Painted in: Florence, Italy

Current location: The Louvre (Paris, France)

Who was she? The woman in the painting is widely believed to be Lisa Gherardini, a 24-year-old Florentine with two sons. However, some theories suggest that the Mona Lisa is a self-portrait of Da Vinci as a woman.

Why is she smiling? No one knows.

The Mona Lisa is not signed or dated by Leonardo da Vinci

The painting has not been assigned a monetary value, nor is it insured. The Mona Lisa is so valuable that is has been called inestimable.

The Mona Lisa was stolen on August 21, 1911 by a museum employee. It was not recovered until two years later.

In 1956, a woman threw a rock at the Mona Lisa, damaging a small speck of paint near the left elbow.

Official Websites

The Louvre
This website provides a closer look at this famous painting from the museum that she calls home. Includes information about the artistic formula used by da Vinci, the woman in the portrait (Lisa Gherardini), and the Mona Lisa's emblematic smile.
PBS: Treasures of the World
More information about the theft of the Mona Lisa from the PBS series, "Treasures of the World."