The Mona Lisa is a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The painting was painted by Leonardo da Vinci between 1503 and 1506. It is thought to be the world’s most famous painting and one of the most valuable paintings in existence.
The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait and is believed to be the first portrait to capture the sitter’s personality. It is set against a backdrop of rolling hills and a winding river. The Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile has been the subject of much speculation and has been likened to the Mona Lisa effect.
It has been the target of a number of high-profile heists and theft attempts; it is displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where it draws over 6 million visitors each year making it one of the most visited works of art in the world. In 2019, it was voted as being one of the 100 most influential works of art in history by BBC Culture readers – placing it at number 10 on their list after being voted first place in 2018 by TIME readers when they created their own 100 Greatest Works Of Art list for their annual magazine issue celebrating 100 years since its creation.
