The Mona Lisa is one of the must studied and celebrated works of art in existence. It currently hangs in the Louvre in Paris under the title Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The painting was started in 1502 by legendary artist Leonardo da Vinci but was not completed until 1519.



The true identity of the woman pictured in the painting was not cemented until 2005, when a University of Heidelberg expert discovered a note that identified her as being Lisa del Giocondo. The Mona portion of the title comes from a shortened version of the Italian phrase ma donna ("my lady") which was similar to how we use Madam in English. Da Vinci was hired by Lisa's husband Francesco del Giocondo to create the painting.

The painting features the image of a woman with her hands folded in her lap. A glow lights up her hands, face, neck and breast. Her eyes are focused as if looking directly at her observer. The armrest of the chair separates her from the viewer. She is sitting in a loggia flanked by dark pillars. The imaginary vast landscape that ends at ice covered mountains. Paths wind through the scenery and a bridge is a distance. The harmonious nature of the image was meant to represent the artist's belief in the link between nature and humanity.

Geometric shapes are recurrent in the image. Lisa's hands form a pyramid shape. The lighting of the various aspects of her body creates circular and spherical shapes. The curving lines of her garments and hair are repeated in the rivers and valleys behind her.

The painting has been restored many times with x-rays showing at least three versions of the images under the current one. There are concerns about the future of the painting. During its lifespan, the original frame of the work was removed and the poplar panel warped under humidity causing a crack near the top. Around the early 19th Century, an attempt was made to keep the crack from extending further by using braces on the back of the panel. Because of its sensitivity to temperature, it is now kept in a climate controlled case.

The Mona Lisa has been subject to various acts of vandalism and theft. The first theft attempt came in 1911 when it disappeared from its position in the Louvre. Suspects were brought in- including Pablo Picasso- but the painting wasn't recovered for two years. The thief was a museum employee and Italian patriot who believed the work should be returned to its home country and put on display. The painting was purposefully moved during World War II when it was relocated for its own safety.

The painting suffered through two vandalism attacks in 1956. The first was through a splash of acid. The second vandal chucked a rock at the masterpiece. The integrity of the painting was compromised but covered with a restoration project. The climate controlled case is also meant to stop further acts of vandalism and is bulletproof.