Did you know that the world's most famous portrait, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, is valued at over a billion US dollars, but for much less than you think? This...
Did you know that the world's most famous portrait, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, is valued at over a billion US dollars, but for much less than you think?
This masterpiece, measuring just 77 by 53 centimeters, depicts Lisa Gherardini, the wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo. It has been in the Louvre in Paris since 1804 and attracts millions of visitors annually.
Leonardo began work on it around 1503 and completed it around 1519, using the sfumato technique to create the famous mysterious smile. This smile seems to fade when looked at directly, playing with the light.
But it's not just her smile that makes her legendary. In 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre by Italian worker Vincenzo Perugia and returned only in 1913. The Mona Lisa is also missing eyebrows and eyelashes, which has sparked much debate.
Today, the Mona Lisa sits behind bulletproof glass, becoming a symbol of world art. Her cultural influence is undeniable. It's worth seeing her in the Louvre to experience her magic in person, right?
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