The Story Behind the Mona Lisa: History, Mystery, and Controversy

Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa around 1503 in Florence, and scholars believe he continued refining it for years — possibly until his death in 1519. The sitter is widely thought to be Lisa Gherardini, wife of a Florentine merchant, though her identity has been debated for centuries.

The painting entered the French royal collection after Leonardo moved to France at the invitation of King Francis I. Its fame exploded after it was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 by an Italian handyman who believed it belonged in Italy. Recovered two years later, the theft turned the Mona Lisa into a global sensation.

Today it hangs behind bulletproof glass in the Denon wing, drawing millions of visitors each year. The enigmatic smile, the sfumato technique, and centuries of mystery keep it the most talked-about painting in the world.