Monday, March 9, 2015
The Most Interesting and Intriguing Facts About Mona Lisa
The Most Interesting and Intriguing Facts About Mona Lisa
One of the most popular paintings in the world is the “Mona Lisa” by the universal genius and Renaissance man – Leonardo de Vinci. After more than 500 years since its creation, the painting continuously captured and captivated the attention of millions of people most especially by art enthusiasts and lovers. It was very popular and controversial for several reasons. Keep that mouse rolling to find the most intriguing and controversial facts about the classical “Mona Lisa”.
1. The Mona Lisa, which is one of the most expensive paintings in the world, is also known as La Gioconda or La Joconde
2. In some instances, it is also called the Portrait of Lisa Gherardini and has been acclaimed as the most sung about, the best known, the most written about, the most parodied and the most visited work of art in the world.
3. La Gioconda is the Italian for “the jocund one”. Jocund means jovial or happy.
4. Lisa Gherardini was the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a rich merchant who lived in the City of Florence in Italy. The city is one of the most famous cities in the world during the Renaissance period.
5. This extremely famous painting is a half-length portrait of a woman in oil on a poplar panel and was painted between 1503 and 1506.
6. It is currently on permanent display at the Musee du Louver in Paris, the capital of France which is the most visited country in the world.
7. It is a property of the French Republic and was purchased by King Francois I of France after Leonardo da Vinci’s death from his student and assistant Salai, who inherited the painting including his other works.
8. It was bought by King Francois I for 4,000 ecus and kept it at Palace of Fontainebleau and then it was given to Louis XIV and was kept at the Palace of Versailles.
9. The term “Mona Lisa” is taken from the Italian “Ma Donna Lisa” which means “My Lady Lisa”. Mona is the contraction of Madonna.
10. The painting is thought to have been commissioned for the new home of Francesco del Giocondo and Lisa and to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea.
