Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous? An In-depth Look at the Famous Painting

The Mona Lisa painting is the most famous piece of art in history. The painting has remained in the public consciousness for centuries. There isn’t a person that hasn’t heard of the famous Mona Lisa. Throughout history, the brightest minds, kings, queens, presidents, singers, writers, and comedians have all discussed the painting. The masterpiece has managed to transcend time and remain an iconic piece of history. Despite the Mona Lisa being a household name, most people have no idea what’s so special about the painting. That leads to the burning question. Why is the Mona Lisa so famous?

The Mona Lisa has a fascinating history that includes an incredible origin story, a deep subtext, and a unique style. Did you know the most famous painter in history painted history’s greatest art? Read on and discover more about why the Mona Lisa is so famous. 

Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?

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Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci is one of the greatest painters in history. However, he was more than just a painter. Da Vinci was a brilliant mind that was an architect, engineer, and scientist. Most importantly, he was a genius artist that could paint, draw, sculpt and build. He was born near the city of Vinci in April 1452. He had no formal education and only learned the basics, including reading, writing, and math. At the same time, it was impossible to deny his incredible talent. In the 1460s, a teenage da Vinci moved to Florence to study under Andrea del Verrocchio. 

By the late 1400s, he was starting to create several masterpieces. As history proves, nothing compares to his most significant work, the Mona Lisa. In the early 1500s, da Vinci began work on the iconic painting. He most likely worked on the Italian Renaissance masterpiece between 1503 and 1506, but rumors suggest he continued to work on it later in life. There are several copies that most assume belong to da Vinci. Regardless, there’s only one Mona Lisa. 

Da Vinci’s Technique 

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The iconic Mona Lisa portrait is a simple yet complex oil painting. Da Vinci uses the sfumato technique to depict the portrait in the style of realism. Da Vinci liked using this method which gives the image the out-of-focus look. At the time, most painters used a canvas to create their breathtaking art. Instead, da Vinci took a different approach and used a poplar wood panel to bring the stunning portrait to life. He most likely took this approach due to his experience as a sculptor. 

In the painting, the subject sits in a chair with her arms folded. One arm rests on the armchair as the other hand lays on top. Da Vinci does this deliberately. He draws attention to her hands which don’t have a wedding ring. The Mona Lisa is also one of the first paintings to depict an imaginary landscape in the background. The vast landscape features icy mountains just over the subject’s shoulder. 

The Mona Lisa Effect and the Smile

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The woman’s expression, eyes, and smile have always garnered significant attention. Da Vinci used a technique that makes it appear that the woman’s eyes follow the viewer. He wasn’t the first artist to use this method, but he became the most famous. The technique even gained the name “The Mona Lisa Effect.”

The woman has a mysterious expression that changes depending on the angle. At times, her smile is inviting and sensual. Other times, her smile is cold and emotionless. For centuries the most brilliant minds have debated Mona Lisa’s unique expression. Throughout the years, there have been numerous studies conducted to determine if Mona Lisa is happy or sad. Da Vinci’s incredible skills and talents with a paintbrush are unparallel with the Mona Lisa. 

Size and Restoration

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The Mona Lisa portrait is larger than life. It’s an iconic piece of history that will continue to survive time. Despite being larger than life, the painting is relatively small, measuring 30 inches by 21 inches. Over time, the panel and frame were changed or reinforced various times. There were a few attempts to touch up the painting, which caused it to darken slightly.

However, it’s practically impossible to re-varnish or clean the Mona Lisa. The portrait has a thin layer of paint and oil to give it a glow. Unfortunately, this method has made the Mona Lisa fragile. Therefore, any cleaning or restoration is a risk that could cause irrecoverable damage. 

Who Was Mona Lisa?

Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The woman in the Mona Lisa portrait is one of history’s greatest mysteries. Throughout the years, there have been many theories on her identity, including that she is Isabella d’Este or a feminized version of da Vinci himself. However, art historians agree that the subject in the painting is noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo. 

As the story goes, wealthy silk merchant and shoemaker Francesco del Giocondo commissioned da Vinci to paint his wife’s portrait for their new home and to celebrate the birth of their child. Da Vinci rarely agreed to create a painting, but he recognized Lisa’s incredible beauty. He just had to paint her. 

Historians made several discoveries over the years, confirming Mona Lisa’s identity. In the early 1500s, an Italian clerk and assistant to Niccolò Machiavelli, Agostino Vespucci, wrote a note that da Vinci told him about Francesco commissioning the painting of his wife, Lisa. 

The title Mona Lisa comes from a combination of words. Mona is the Italian version of madam, which translates into the Mona Lisa. Da Vinci often referred to the painting by its alternate title La Gioconda. The title translates into “joconde,” which means happy, and is a play on Lisa del Giocondo’s last name. Therefore, the French title for the portrait is La Joconde. 

Where in the World is the Mona Lisa?

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Some art historians believe there are two Mona Lisa paintings, but most scholars maintain there is only one. The Mona Lisa has been in the Paris museum, the Louvre, since 1797. According to some historians, following da Vinci’s death, King Francis I purchased the painting, which later became the property of the French Republic. 

Many historians doubt the second painting exists. Others believe that da Vinci created a second Mona Lisa for Giuliano de’ Medici in 1513, which da Vinci’s assistant Salai sold to King Francis. However, the original painting remained in Salai’s possession until his death. 

Stealing the Mona Lisa

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On August 21, 1911, all seemed normal in the iconic Louvre. The world’s most historic art sat peacefully in the museum. Suddenly, a mysterious figure appeared. He took the Mona Lisa off the wall, tucked it under his jacket, and walked out of the Louvre with the iconic portrait. No, it wasn’t George Clooney, and this isn’t the plot of Ocean’s 14. The real-life theft of the Mona Lisa shocked the world.

To make matters worse, it wasn’t until the next afternoon that anyone noticed the missing painting. Immediately everyone started pointing fingers and blaming each other. The police felt the museum’s weak security led to the theft. However, the Louvre criticized the police for not finding a single lead. On top of that, the rumor mill was working overtime with conspiracy theories. 

A large number of people assumed the museum staged the theft for publicity. One theory suggested that iconic painter Pablo Picasso was behind the theft of the famous painting. A few others proposed the idea that French poet Guillaume Apollinaire walked into the museum and snatched the Mona Lisa off the wall. Regardless, it remained missing for roughly two years. 

Returning the Mona Lisa

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In 1913, an Italian carpenter, Vincenzo Peruggia, sent a letter to an art dealer Alfredo Geri admitting to having the Mona Lisa. Back in 1911, Peruggia was actually working at the Louvre. He felt that the Mona Lisa didn’t belong in the French Louvre and instead should be in an Italian museum. On the other hand, it’s possible he had plans to create forgeries of the painting. Geri immediately contacted the authorities, and the Mona Lisa was back in the Louvre. 

The historical portrait has also been the target of vandalism over the years. For instance, unknown persons threw acid and a rock at the painting, causing minor damage in 1956. Years later, in 2009, a Russian tourist caused controversy when she threw a mug at the Mona Lisa. The most recent attack came in 2022 when a man dressed as a woman threw cake at the painting. It turns out that Mona Lisa is stronger than most people assume. She also sits behind bulletproof glass which adds an extra layer of protection.  

The Iconic Mona Lisa

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Undoubtedly, the Mona Lisa is the most famous and influential painting in history. To this day, singers, writers, and actors reference the world-famous piece of art. The Mona Lisa and Renaissance legend Leonardo da Vinci will continue to transcend time.