Mona Lisa facts: why the painting still fascinates

The phrase mona lisa facts opens a story that starts in 1503 and still reaches the Louvre today. Leonardo da Vinci began working on the Mona Lisa in October 1503, and the painting went on to become one of the most famous paintings in the world.

What is the Mona Lisa and who was it painted as?

The Mona Lisa was traditionally considered to depict Lisa del Giocondo. It is also the only portrait by Leonardo da Vinci whose authenticity has never seriously been questioned.

Leonardo painted it in oil on a white poplar panel. He may have continued working on it as late as 1517, which means the painting remained in progress for years after he started it.

Why does the Mona Lisa look so lifelike?

Leonardo achieved the painting's lifelike effect by not drawing outlines. Instead, the soft blending of sfumato creates an ambiguous mood in the corners of the mouth and eyes.

The Mona Lisa was also one of the first Italian portraits to show the sitter in front of an imaginary landscape. That background is part of what gives the portrait its unusual presence.

Another detail people notice is that the painting has no clearly visible eyebrows or eyelashes. A 2007 scan suggested the Mona Lisa originally had eyelashes and eyebrows that disappeared over time.

How did the Mona Lisa become so famous?

King Francis I of France acquired the Mona Lisa after Leonardo's death in 1519. The painting has normally been on display at the Louvre in Paris since 1797.

Its global fame partly stems from its 1911 theft by Vincenzo Peruggia. The theft and recovery of the Mona Lisa generated unprecedented publicity for an art theft.

That attention added to the painting's reputation far beyond the gallery wall. Today, the Mona Lisa holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known painting insurance valuation in history.

What makes the mystery of the Mona Lisa last?

Part of the lasting interest comes from the mix of careful technique and unanswered visual details. Leonardo's sfumato, the invisible outlines, and the shifting look of the eyes and mouth all keep the portrait from feeling fully settled.

The painting’s history also helps: it moved from Leonardo's workshop to the French royal collection, then to the Louvre, and then into worldwide headlines after the 1911 theft. Each step added another layer to the story.

If you want to check what you remember about mona lisa facts, the quiz is next.