Viewers have been captivated by the Mona Lisa's renownedly mysterious smile for generations. King François I was one of her earliest admirers; in 1518, he brought Leonardo da Vinci to France and purchased the artwork from him. This is how the most well-known artwork in the world got into the royal collections that the Louvre has displayed since the French Revolution.

Since 2005, the Mona Lisa has been displayed in the middle of the room in lonely splendor, enclosed in a protective glass case. This specific treatment is owing to conservation standards and the necessity to protect such a well-known piece. The piece was painted on a poplar wood panel that has warped over time, resulting in a fracture. The Mona Lisa must be stored in a glass case with controlled humidity and temperature to avoid additional deterioration.

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Key details and facts about the Mona Lisa

Guide leading tourists through the Louvre Museum, Paris, showcasing famous artworks on a 3-hour tour.

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci

Date: Around 1503–1506, though some scholars believe he may have continued working on it until around 1517.

Medium: Oil on poplar wood panel

Dimensions: 77 cm × 53 cm (30 in × 21 in)

Location: The Louvre Museum, Paris, in the Denon Wing

Facts:

The Mona Lisa is worth about $870 million and is currently the most expensive painting in the world.
There are many conspiracy theories about the painting, including one that claims Da Vinci painted two versions of the Mona Lisa to cover up an illegitimate pregnancy.
French Emperor Napoleon hung the painting of the Mona Lisa in his bedroom for about four years in the 1800s.
There is a French heritage law that prohibits the painting from being bought or sold.

A closer look at the Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa depicts a woman with a mysterious smile seated against a distant landscape. She is shown in a three-quarter view, with her hands delicately folded in her lap. The woman's identity has been the subject of much speculation, but most art historians agree she is Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a wealthy Florentine merchant named Francesco del Giocondo. The painting's name, La Gioconda, comes from her married name.

Composition

The painting's composition method makes it one of the most studied pieces in art history, especially by aspiring artists. Its contemporary framing as a portrait that could be created right now has earned it great respect. The young woman's mysterious smile and eye placement produce more subtle optical effects.

Scientific expertise

No matter where they are, some claim to feel as though the Mona Lisa is watching them. Leonardo da Vinci's scientific and anatomical expertise is demonstrated by this story. According to eyewitness reports, the Mona Lisa's well-known smile was maintained by the painter as a band of musicians performed.

The smile

The Mona Lisa’s smile has captivated viewers for centuries due to its elusive nature. Depending on where you focus, it can seem to change or appear more ambiguous. This phenomenon is often attributed to Leonardo's masterful use of sfumato, a technique that blends colors and tones to create soft transitions between colors and edges.

Sfumato

Leonardo da Vinci’s technique of sfumato, which means "smoke" in Italian, involves the delicate blending of light and shadow without clear lines. It gives the Mona Lisa's face a lifelike softness that adds to her enigmatic expression.

Background

The background of the painting features a dreamlike, almost surreal landscape with winding roads and distant mountains. This contrasts with the calm, composed figure of the woman, which some interpret as a reflection of the balance between nature and human presence.

Eyes

One of the intriguing aspects of the painting is that Mona Lisa’s eyes seem to follow the viewer, no matter from which angle you look at her. This effect is thought to result from Leonardo's use of perspective and shadow.

Get up close to the Mona Lisa, without the crowds

Skip the lines and let a host guide you straight to the world’s most famous painting. After your Mona Lisa visit, explore the rest of the Louvre at your own pace, from the Venus de Milo to over 35,000 other masterpieces.

The man behind it all

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was a Renaissance polymath who made profound contributions to a wide range of fields, including art, science, engineering, anatomy, and architecture. He is perhaps best known today for his masterpieces in painting, such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, but his intellectual curiosity and diverse talents went far beyond the realm of visual art. Leonardo's ability to merge artistic skill with scientific observation has made him one of history's most influential figures.

The Mona Lisa encapsulates many of the groundbreaking techniques and philosophical ideas that Leonardo pursued throughout his life. His deep interest in the intersection of art and science can be seen in the way he meticulously observed the human form and nature. His ability to convey human emotion, along with his mastery of technique, set new standards for portrait painting that would influence generations of artists, including his contemporaries Michelangelo and Raphael as well as future artists like Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Some of Da Vinci’s other masterpieces at the Louvre are The Virgin of the Rocks, Saint John the Baptist, The Baptism of Christ, The Annunciation, and The Study of Horses.

Cultural impact of the Mona Lisa

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Symbol of art

Over the centuries, the Mona Lisa has become more than just a painting—it has become a symbol of art and culture. Its fame has transcended the realm of fine art to become a part of popular culture, referenced and parodied in everything from movies to advertisements to street art. Its image is instantly recognizable and is often used to represent the concept of high art in a global context.

Inspiration across fields

The Mona Lisa’s enigmatic nature has inspired writers, philosophers, and artists to reflect on the themes of identity, perception, and the nature of art itself. Her smile, her gaze, and the overall mystery of the portrait continue to provoke discussions about the relationship between the viewer and the artwork.

Art vs reality

The painting also invites contemplation on the relationship between art and reality, with its seamless illusion of three-dimensionality creating a bridge between the physical world and the world of imagination and meaning.

Pop culture

The Mona Lisa has been reimagined and parodied countless times in pop culture, transforming from a revered painting into a universal symbol that transcends the art world. From Andy Warhol’s pop art renditions to Salvador Dalí's surrealist interpretations, artists have continuously reinterpreted the image to comment on everything from celebrity to commercialism.

Sales and marketing

In the realm of advertising, the Mona Lisa has been used to sell everything from luxury cars to perfume, capitalizing on her association with beauty, mystique, and sophistication.

Movies and more

The painting’s mystical allure has made it a subject for film, literature, and music, with filmmakers and writers referencing it as a symbol of both timeless beauty and hidden secrets. Movies like The Da Vinci Code (2003) further cemented the painting's role as a centerpiece in popular fiction, blending art, mystery, and intrigue.

Theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum

On August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman and painter who had been working at the museum. He managed to steal the painting without drawing much attention, using a clever combination of planning and the museum’s lax security at the time.

Peruggia planned to sell the painting in Italy. He believed that the Mona Lisa belonged in his homeland, claiming that it had been wrongfully taken by France during Napoleon’s reign. Peruggia took the painting to Florence, where he tried to sell it to art dealers. However, the dealers were suspicious and contacted the police, who eventually arrested him.

Peruggia was caught in December 1913 when he attempted to sell the Mona Lisa to Giovanni Poggi, the director of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Poggi recognized the painting and immediately alerted the police. Peruggia was arrested and tried for the theft.

After Peruggia’s arrest, the painting was returned to the Louvre Museum in January 1914. It was greeted with celebrations in France and around the world, as the theft had caused widespread media coverage and stirred public interest. The painting’s recovery only enhanced its fame.

Tips for visiting the Mona Lisa

Arrive early in the morning when the museum opens or later in the evening (on night openings) to avoid peak crowds. The Denon Wing, where the Mona Lisa is located, gets extremely crowded during midday hours.
A guided tour provides skip-the-line access and ensures you head directly to the Mona Lisa. Guides often share fascinating details about the painting, enhancing your experience.
Arrive early to Room 711 and position yourself in the center of the barrier for the best view. Be patient, as many visitors take photos and move on quickly.
The Mona Lisa is displayed behind bulletproof glass and a safety barrier, so you won’t get extremely close. Accept the viewing distance and focus on appreciating the artwork rather than the logistics.
While visiting the Mona Lisa, explore the surrounding masterpieces, such as Veronese's The Wedding at Cana and David's The Coronation of Napoleon, located nearby in the Denon Wing.