The Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece, has long inspired fascination across the globe. Her subtle smile and complex backdrop have had generations pondering the meaning of this artwork.
Thankfully, we now know quite a lot about this painting. So here are 19 of the most interesting facts about the Mona Lisa, a painting that has puzzled many for over 500 years.
In 1962, the painting was evaluated at US$100 million, which is equivalent to $870 million in 2021.
The painting was of his wife, Lisa del Giocondo, also known as Lisa Gherardini – her family name.
Mona Lisa is known for her mysterious, subtle smile. So it is fitting that La Gioconda, her Italian name, means ‘jocund’ (‘happy’ or ‘jovial’).
While the painting was long considered a masterpiece in the art world, it wasn’t until it was stolen that the rest of the world learned her name.
In 1963, the Mona Lisa traveled the United States, drawing huge crowds to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
This iconic piece is so famous that people will actually travel large distances to visit the painting.