The Mona Lisa

Who is she? Why did Leonardo carry her around until the day he died? These are only a few questions asked about the Mona Lisa over many years. The Mona Lisa (La Gioconda), which is considered one of the most famous paintings in the world, if not the most famous painting has featured in numerous debates in the artistic world. Many thousands of tourists visit the Mona Lisa annually and there have been many a debate on who she was even among the public. So, who is this familiar figure?

The Mona Lisa takes pride of place in the Louvre and looks rather sombre, with dull shades of yellow and browns. This is due to a layer of varnish covering the painting, which has yellowed over the years. That poses a question was the painting originally more vibrant in color? When the painting was stolen from the Louve in the year 1911 there was complete uproar. The thief was a former employee of the Museum and firmly believed that the painting belonged to Italy. The thief put the painting underneath his painter's smock and walked out the front door without being apprehended. The painting was found two years later as was the thief who was apprehended for this crime.

Here are a two of the most popular theories as to who the Mona Lisa, the woman with the crooked smile and enchanting eyes, really is:

- The most popular theory is that the woman who posed for the Mona Lisa is Lisa Gherardini. She was the wife of a Florentine Silk Merchant who were friends with Leonardo. It is believed that her wealthy husband commissioned this painting and Leonardo would commission men to sing to her and buffoons to amuse her to take away her look of melancholy. However, if this portrait was commissioned why did it never delivered to its patron?

- Is the Mona Lisa a self portrait? This is yet another popular theory that has been bandied around for many years in the art world. There are definitely some similarities between the Mona Lisa and Leonardo's self portrait which he did many years after the Mona Lisa. Could this be where she got her famous enigmatic smile? Did this artist paint himself?