Behind the Art:
The Mona Lisa

View artwork and learn about the artists who created them.

Tuesday, August 25

This activity is for ages 9 and up, but anyone can join.

The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci sometime around 1503 in Florence, Italy. It is not known for certain who the woman in the painting is, but it is strongly believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, who was a rich silk merchant in Florence.

Much remains unknown about the painting, which adds to its appeal. It is unknown how much time da Vinci spent completing the painting, and why the painting was never given to the couple after its completion.

The painting is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and is the most visited painting in the world.

Photo Credit: The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci , Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg

Check out these videos to learn more about The Mona Lisa:

• The Mystery of the Mona Lisa: https://youtu.be/ga-xB-NKeiM
  
• Better Know the Mona Lisa: https://youtu.be/Ooz3u9y7P7I

Sources:

• https://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/mona-lisa-portrait-lisa-gherardini-wife-francesco-del-giocondo?selection=44909
• https://easyscienceforkids.com/mona-lisa-facts/