The Mona Lisa holds the title of the world’s most renowned painting. Regarded as an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has earned the distinction of being “the most recognized, the most visited, the most extensively written about, the most celebrated in song, and the most frequently parodied work of art globally.”
However, the subject’s identity had long been a subject of scholarly and historical debate, persisting for centuries until it was definitively established that the real person behind the painting was the wife of a wealthy Venetian merchant named Lisa del Giocondo.
History of The Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa, one of Leonardo da Vinci’s most renowned works, has a fascinating history. Painted between 1503 and 1506, this masterpiece showcases the pinnacle of Leonardo’s artistic style. While some experts believe it was created post-1513, the authenticity of the painting has never been seriously questioned.
During the 16th century, a varnish was applied to preserve the artwork. It was initially housed at the Palace of Fontainebleau before Louis XIV relocated it to the Palace of Versailles. With the onset of the French Revolution, it found a place at the Louvre in 1797, where it remains to this day.
Interestingly, the Mona Lisa wasn’t widely known outside the art world until the 1860s when it began receiving recognition as a Renaissance masterpiece among the French intellectuals.
Today, the Mona Lisa graces the Louvre Museum in Paris, where it has been displayed for over two centuries. Its immense value has made it the target of numerous theft attempts, including the infamous 1911 theft by Vincenzo Perugia. Perugia, an Italian nationalist and Louvre employee, believed the painting belonged in Italy.
After stealing the Mona Lisa and hiding it in his apartment for two years, he was apprehended when he attempted to sell it to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Following a brief exhibition at the Uffizi, the painting was returned to the Louvre in 1914. Perugia served six months in prison but was celebrated as a patriot in Italy for his audacious act.
Initial Assumptions About Mona Lisa’s Identity
Throughout history, various assumptions and theories swirled around the true identity of the Mona Lisa. Some speculated she was a courtesan, while others believed she hailed from nobility. A few even proposed that the enigmatic woman might be Leonardo’s mother or a secret lover.
One of the earliest accounts of the Mona Lisa came from Giorgio Vasari, who penned a biography of Leonardo in 1550, over three decades after the artist’s death. Vasari’s writings provided valuable insights into the painting’s origin and the sitter’s identity.
It wasn’t until Salaì, Leonardo’s assistant, passed away in 1524 that a portrait named “la Gioconda” surfaced in his possessions, hinting at the woman’s identity. Despite facing skepticism, Vasari asserted that the Mona Lisa depicted the wife of a prosperous Florentine businessman.
However, concrete evidence to substantiate his claim remained elusive until 2005 when a manuscript, supporting his assertion, was discovered amidst ancient books at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Nevertheless, these speculations remained speculative until modern technological advancements offered new avenues for exploration.
Lisa del Giocondo: The Real Person Behind Mona Lisa
The quest to uncover the true identity of the Mona Lisa took a significant turn when an ancient book, with intriguing contents, emerged. This book, which had once belonged to Agostino Vespucci, a close friend of Leonardo da Vinci, became a pivotal piece in solving the age-old mystery.
While researchers initially regarded the discovery with some skepticism, they began to piece together a compelling narrative. However, it wasn’t until 2005 that Dr. Armin Schlechter, a scholar at Heidelberg University, unearthed a marginal note that would firmly establish the identity of the Mona Lisa. The note, dated October 1503, was penned by Leonardo’s contemporary, Agostino Vespucci.
In this note, Vespucci made a striking comparison between Leonardo and the renowned Greek painter Apelles, referencing a painting Leonardo was working on at that time. According to Vespucci, the subject of Leonardo’s painting was none other than Lisa del Giocondo. This revelation marked a breakthrough in the quest for the Mona Lisa’s true identity.
Though some uncertainties still lingered, including the painting’s attribution to the Louvre’s Mona Lisa, the discovery provided compelling evidence that the woman depicted was likely Lisa del Giocondo.
Mona Lisa Was A Real Person
Lisa Gherardini was a member of the influential Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany. Born on June 15th, 1479, she was the first of seven children. Gherardini was a family that had once enjoyed great wealth and influence but had seen a decline in their wealth and influence during the early stages of the Renaissance.
Lisa married Francesco del Giocondo, a prosperous Florentine silk merchant, on March 5, 1495, while she was 16 years old. Marrying Lisa was advantageous for Francesco, not only because of her family’s previous social standing but also due to her substantial dowry, which included 170 gold Florins and a farm.
Historians and scholars have reached a consensus that the Mona Lisa was commissioned by Francesco to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea and the construction of a new house. The painting remains incomplete, but one can see a white scarf draped around her neck, symbolizing the cultural recognition of her successful childbirth. Celebratory portraits were a common practice among wealthy families during the Renaissance era.
In 1503, Francesco invited several artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, to paint Lisa’s portrait. Leonardo began work on the painting, but it’s believed that he never actually delivered it to Lisa, possibly due to disputes or because he wasn’t paid for his work. As a result, the artwork remained with Leonardo, ultimately becoming one of the most celebrated and enigmatic paintings in the world.
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