Today, in 2020, the Mona Lisa is believed to be worth more than $ 860 million, taking into consideration

the inflation. Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa between 1503 and 1506 AD. It’s painted in such a
way that the eyes of the Mona Lisa fall into the center of vision of the user, while the lips fall into the
peripheral vision.

Who was Mona Lisa: The woman in the painting

• The subject of the paintings is popularly believed to be an Italian noblewoman called Lisa del Giocondo
– the wife of a wealthy Florentine silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo.

• The painting was commissioned for their new home and to celebrate the birth of their second son,
Andrea.

Mona Lisa meaning

In those days, in Italy, Mona meant Madonna, which was how all women were addressed (e.g., Mrs.)
and therefore the name Mona Lisa.

• The Italian name of the Mona Lisa painting is La Gioconda, which literally translates to the jovial/happy
one’. This is supposed to be a pun on the feminine name form of Lisa’s married name Giocondo.

• When was the Mona Lisa painted?

• It is believed that Da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503 or 1504 in Florence (Italy). It took Da
Vinci 4 years to finish painting the Mona Lisa, despite its surprisingly small size.

• However, there is no clear, undisputed knowledge regarding when exactly was the painting
completed.

• Although the Louvre – world’s largest art museum and a historic monument where the original Mona
Lisa is displayed – states that the Mona Lisa was painted between 1503 to 1506, some historians and
Leonardo experts say that the painting couldn’t have been painted before 1513 AD.

How much is the Mona Lisa worth?

• Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was assessed for Insurance in 1962 and it was attached an insurance value of
$100 million.

• That sum, in 2020, is equivalent to more than $860 million after adjusting for inflation.

• The painting is so valuable that in 2014, a France 24 article (France 24 sa French state-owned
international news television network) suggested that the Mona Lisa could be sold to help erase the
national debt of the country!

However, it was noted that “the Mona Lisa and other such art works that were held in museums that
belonged to public bodies are considered public property and cannot be otherwise.” • Why is the Mona
Lisa so famous?
• Leonardo da Vinci used several unique and innovative techniques to paint the Mona Lisa. The painting
redefined the rules of contemporary art at the time and the method he employed has become an
integral part of today’s art school curriculum.

• The technique (of not using lines or borders)

• One of the tools da Vinci created was the sfumato technique, which translates to ‘without lines or
borders, in the manner of smoke. It was typical at the time for artists to form an outline, whereas Da
Vinci did not use outlines, but instead used different tones/shades of paint to create the illusion of light
and shadow.

• Starting with dark undertones, he built the illusion of three-dimensional features through layers and
layers of thin, semi-transparent glazes. He used darker shades to highlight features and borders of the
subject. The use of this technique caught the interest of the art circle in Paris and was hailed as a
groundbreaking innovation in painting.

There were many other unique characteristics of the Mona Lisa that intrigued the art world and viewers,
such as the landscape (mountains and rivers) in the background. A portrait was usually drawn with a
background of open sky, a monotone background, or a room. The background was also unusual due to
the dimensions of the mountains.

• However, these small points of uniqueness are only recognized by people in the know or by those who
have studied the painting: this still doesn’t explain why everyone in the world seems to wants to see it.

The Mona Lisa’s Smile

• One of the most popular reasons for the Mona Lisa’s global appeal is her smile. Da Vinci exploited an
optical illusion to create a unique smile through perspective and his use of shadow work. Da Vinci
painted the Mona Lisa in such a way that the eyes of the Mona Lisa fall directly in the center of vision of
the viewer, while the lips fall just under the periphery of one’s vision. His sfumato technique further
ensured that the eyes and the lips were the most prominent features.

Interpretations of the Mona Lisa’s smile

• There are various interpretations to the smile; some say it’s a happy smile, some find it deceptive, and
still others feel that it is a sad smile. Apart from the very nature of the smile, it has also led to many
speculations as to who the subject was; in other words, whose face inspired the most famous painting in
history? The facial expression gives the painting an enigmatic quality, leaving the viewer wondering
what the model was thinking, who she was, and why she seems happy to some and sad to others.
Hidden Secrets in the Mona Lisa

• There are rumors of hidden secrets and symbols within the painting. Academicians have identified
evidence of various (unknown) layers of pictures within the Mona Lisa. Scholars are said to have
identified at least four different paintings that may be varieties of the Mona Lisa, with several different
people as the subject. Some claim that Da Vinci actually painted the Mona Lisa in his likeness, as a
female Da Vinci.

Da Vinci was known to be an interesting character himself, in addition to being an inventor, artist and
scientist. In his heyday and under the patronage of Francois I, he managed to create an aura of celebrity
around himself. His fame rubbed off on the Mona Lisa, which was also favored by Francois I, his patron.

• It is important to know that only 20 finished canvas paintings were done by Da Vinci during his
lifetime, further increasing the Mona Lisa’s rarity. The fact that it was stolen in the early days of the 20 th
century added further to its fame.

• Artists like Duchamp, Dali and Warhol publicized the painting further through their own reproductions.
The painting has been used as an object for mass reproduction, merchandising, lampooning and
speculation, and has been reproduced in 300 different paintings and more than 2,000 advertisements

There are some other controversial stories as to who the subject of the painting is. The Mona Lisa, was
always displayed in a place of importance, even publicly displayed in the Fontainebleau, Francois I’s
favorite château in 1519. In 1800, the Mona Lisa was hung in Napoleon’s bedroom, and in 4 years it was
moved to the Louvre, which it still calls home.

• The Mona Lisa continues to be studied by artists and academicians to uncover the apparent mystery
that hands around her like a shroud. Its reputation as a carrier of symbols, secrets and other unknown
mysteries will surely keep the popularity of the Mona Lisa intact for a very long time.

• 10 Facts You Might not Know about the Masterpiece

1. She lived with Francois I, Louis XIV and Napoleon

Although da Vinci began work on his masterpiece while living in his native Italy, he did not finish it until
he moved to France at King Francois l’s request. The French king displayed the painting in his
Fontainebleau palace where it remained for a century. Louis XIV removed it to the grand Palace of
Versailles. At the outset of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte kept the painting in his boudoir.
2. Some historians believe Mona Lisa is a Self-Portrait of Leonardo Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519, and
he is buried at a French castle.

Da Vinci Italy’s National Committee for Cultural Heritage is undertaking an investigation, and plans to dig
up his skull. They want to rebuild Leonardo’s face, using CSI-style technology. Will he resemble the
mysterious Mona

3. She has her own room in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

After the Louvre launched a four-year, $6.3 million renovation in 2003, the painting now has its own
room. A glass ceiling lets in natural light, a shatter-proof glass display case maintains a controlled
temperature of 43 degrees F. And a little spotlight brings out the true colors of da Vinci’s original paints.

4. It is a painting but not a canvas.

Da Vinci’s famous masterpiece is painted on a poplar plank. Considering he was accustomed to painting
larger works on wet plaster, a wood plank does not seem that outlandish. Canvas was available to artists
since the 14th century, but many Renaissance masters preferred wood as a basis for their small artworks.

• 5. Jackie Kennedy invited her to visit.

Over the centuries, French officials have only rarely let the painting out of their sight. However, when
first lady Jackie Kennedy asked if the painting could visit the U.S., French President de Gaulle agreed.
“Mona Lisa” went on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and then at the
Metropolitan Museum of the Arts in New York City.

• 6. A thief made her famous.

Although in the art world, the painting had always been an acknowledged masterpiece, it wasn’t until it
was stolen in the summer of 1911 that it would capture the attention of the general public. Newspapers
spread the story of the crime worldwide. When the painting finally returned to the Louvre two years
later, practically the whole world was cheering.

• 7. Picasso was under suspicion for the theft. During the investigation, the gendarmes went so far as to
question known art dissidents such as PabloſPicasso about the theft. They briefly arrested poet
Guillaume Apollinaire, who had once said the painting should be burned. Their suspicions proved to be
unfounded.
8. She receives fan mail.

Since the painting first arrived at the Louvre in 1815, “Mona Lisa” has received plenty of love letters and
flowers from admirers. She even has her own mailbox.

10. She cannot be bought or sold.

Truly priceless, the painting cannot be bought or sold according to French heritage law. As part of the
Louvre collection, “Mona Lisa” belongs to the public, and by popular agreement, their hearts belong to
her.

15 Facts About Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper

1. IT’S BIGGER THAN YOU THINK.

Countless reproductions have been made in all sizes, but the original is about 15 feet by 29 feet.

2. THE LAST SUPPER CAPTURES A CLIMACTIC MOMENT.

Everyone knows the painting depicts Jesus’s last meal with his apostles before he was captured and
crucified. But more specifically, Leonardo da Vinci wanted to capture the instant just after Jesus reveals
that one of his friends will betray him, complete with reactions of shock and rage from the apostles. In
Leonardo da Vinci’s interpretation, the moment also takes place just before the birth of the Eucharist,
with Jesus reaching for the bread and a glass of wine that would be the key symbols of this Christian
sacrament.

3. YOU WON’T FIND IT IN A MUSEUM.

Although The Last Supper is easily one of the world’s most iconic paintings, its permanent home is a
convent in Milan, Italy. And moving it would be tricky, to say the least. Leonardo da Vinci painted the
religious work directly (and fittingly) on the dining hall wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie
back in 1495.
 4. ALTHOUGH IT’S PAINTED ON A WALL, IT’S NOT A FRESCO.

Frescos were painted on wet plaster. But Leonardo da Vinci rejected this traditional technique for
several reasons. First off, he wanted to achieve a grander luminosity than the fresco method allowed
for. But the bigger problem with frescos-as Leonardo da Vinci saw it-was that they demanded the
painter rush to finish his work before the plaster dried.

• 6. VERY FEW OF LEONARDO DA VINCI’S ORIGINAL BRUSHSTROKES

REMAIN.

• Although the painting itself was beloved, da Vinci’s tempera-on-stone experiment was a failure. By the
early 16th century, the paint had started to flake and decay, and within 50 years, The Last Supper was a
ruin of its former glory. Early restoration attempts only made it worse.

• Vibrations from Allied bombings during World War II further contributed to the painting’s destruction.
Finally, in 1980, a 19-year restoration effort began. The Last Supper was ultimately restored, but it lost
much of its original paint along the way.

7. A HAMMER AND NAIL HELPED LEONARDO ACHIEVE THE ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE.

Part of what makes The Last Supper so striking is the perspective from which it’s painted, which seems
to invite the viewer to step right into the dramatic scene. To achieve this illusion, Leonardo da Vinci
hammered a nail into the wall, then tied string to it to make marks that helped guide his hand in
creating the painting’s angles.

8. RENOVATIONS ELIMINATED A PORTION OF THE LAST SUPPER.

In 1652, a doorway was added to the wall that holds the painting. Its construction meant that a lower
central chunk of the piece-which included Jesus’ feet-was lost.
9. THE LAST SUPPER’S JUDAS MAY HAVE BEEN MODELED AFTER A REAL CRIMINAL.

It is said that the look of every apostle was based on a real-life model. When it came time to pick the
face for the traitorous Judas (fifth from the left, holding a bag of telltale silver), Leonardo da Vinci
searched the jails of Milan for the perfect-looking scoundrel.

10. THERE MAY BE A BIBLICAL EASTER EGG HERE.

To the right of Jesus, Thomas stands in profile, his finger pointing up in the air. Some speculate that this
gesture is meant to isolate Thomas’s finger, which becomes key in a later Bible story when Jesus rises
from the dead. Thomas doubts his eyes, and so is entreated to probe Jesus’ wounds with his finger to
help him believe.

11. THE MEANING OF ITS FOOD IS UP FOR DEBATE.

The spilled salt before Judas has been said to represent his betrayal, or alternately, is seen as a sign of
his bad luck in being the one chosen to betray. The fish served has similarly conflicted readings. If it is
meant to be eel, it might represent indoctrination and thereby faith in Jesus. However, if it’s herring,
then it could symbolize a nonbeliever who denies religion.

12. IT’S INSPIRED SOME WILD THEORIES.

In The Templar Revelation, Lynn Picknett and Clive

Prince propose that the figure to the left of Jesus is not John, but Mary Magdalene, and that The Last
Supper is key evidence in a cover-up of the true identity of Christ by the Roman Catholic Church.

13. THE LAST SUPPER ALSO INSPIRED POPULAR FICTION.

And not just The Da Vinci Code. A pervasive part of the painting’s mythology is the story that Leonardo
da Vinci searched for ages for the right model for his Judas. Once he found him, he realized it was the
same man who had once posed for him as Jesus. Sadly, years of hard living and sin had ravaged his once-
angelic face. As compelling a story as this is, it’s also totally false.
• 14. IT’S BEEN MIMICKED FOR CENTURIES.

• Fine art and pop culture have paid tribute to The Last Supper with a cavalcade of imitations and
parodies. These range from a 16th century oil painting reproduction to new interpretations from
Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Susan Dorothea White, and Vik

Muniz, who made his out of chocolate syrup. •

Recreations of The Last Supper distinctive tableau can also be found

In the Mel Brooks comedy History of the World Part 1, Paul Thomas

Anderson’s stoner-noir Inherent Vice, and Luis Buñuel’s Viridiana, which was declared “blasphemous” by
the Vatican. It’s also been a plot point in The Da Vinci Code and Futurama.

• 15. WANT TO SEE THE LAST SUPPER IN PERSON? BETTER BOOK (WAY) IN ADVANCE.

• Though The Last Supper is one of Italy’s must-see sites, the convent in which it is located was not built
for big crowds. Only 20 to 25 people are allowed in at a time in visiting blocks of 15 minutes. It is
recommended visitors book tickets to see The Last Supper at least two months in advance. And be sure
to dress conservatively, or you may be turned away from the convent.