"The Mona Lisa" ("La Gioconda")

"The Mona Lisa" ("La Gioconda")



   Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is one of the most famous and most celebrated works of all time. The mastery of the painting lies in its subtle detail, including the faint smile, and Mona Lisa's distinctive gaze. The work is said to have been commissioned by a gentleman named Francesco del Giocondo, who hired Leonardo to paint a portrait of his wife, and this is why The Mona Lisa is sometimes referred to as La Gioconda. While this is a theory on the origination of the painting, scholars have disagreed throughout the ages about how factual this story really is.

   The Mona Lisa, aside from being one of the most recognized works in the history of art, is also one of the most widely reproduced works ever. Of course there are numerous Da Vinci posters available, many of which are of The Mona Lisa, available in different hues and a variety of sizes, there are also many other reproductions of the work. For instance, Andy Warhol used the Mona Lisa in the creation of one of his prints, and Botero reproduced his own version of The Mona Lisa, a cartoon-like oil painting. In 1954, Salvador Dali created a self-portrait of himself as Mona Lisa.

   The use of The Mona Lisa does not end there; The Mona Lisa has been the inspiration behind countless novelty items including clothing, jewelry, houseware, as well as having been used in many modern day advertisements. La Gioconda has even been reproduced topless, and the Da Vinci poster has been turned into a mockery with the Mona Lisa in possession of marijuana, and even sporting hair curlers or braces.

   The list goes on and on, and it is probably safe to assume that the Da Vinci posters and the extraordinary painting will continuously be tampered with to create a new Mona Lisa time and time again.

History


   Leonardo da Vinci left us numerous masterpieces that we still study and marvel at today. One such masterpiece, the 16th century oil painting of the Mona Lisa, also referred to as ‘La Giaconda’, is considered by the art world to be one of his most famous works. The history of the Mona Lisa has long garnered much attention and stirred controversy with regard to the identity of the woman who sat for the painting.

   It is said that the painting was commissioned by the wealthy silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo and his wife Lisa. The couple wanted it for their new home, and to mark the birth of their second child. Many believe that the woman in the painting is indeed Lisa del Giocondo. However, the debate still continues today.

   Da Vinci started the piece in 1503 and worked on it for four years; then, he set it aside. He moved to France in 1516 when the French King invited him, and resumed his work on the Mona Lisa. It took another three years to complete.

Theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 

   Part of the Mona Lisa history includes a robbery that caused much ado. The painting was displayed in the Salon Carre, in the Louvre. On August 21, 1911, an artist went to the museum to admire the notable painting and discovered instead an empty space; the Mona Lisa had been taken from the Louvre.

   The museum was shut down for a week in order to pursue the investigation. French poet Guillaume Apollinaire was arrested and jailed on the suspicion that he was somehow associated with the theft. He, in turn, accused his friend Pablo Picasso. Eventually, both men were cleared of any wrongdoing.

   In 1912, two years after the theft, the Mona Lisa was found. It is believed that Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia stole the painting and left with it under his coat after closing hours.

   One hypothesis regarding the reason behind the theft is that Peruggia was convinced that the painting belonged in Italy because it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Another hypothesis is that his friend had been selling copies of the Mona Lisa, and figured that the value of the copies would increase if the original had vanished.

   Vincenzo Peruggia was caught trying to sell the painting. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre in 1913, where it still hangs to this day, and continues to intrigue its viewers.