Top 10 Facts About the Mona Lisa Painting

Leonardo da Vinci was known for hiding symbols, letters, and numbers in his works to convey hidden messages. The iconic painting of Mona Lisa is no exception, with experts recently uncovering secrets by magnifying her eyes 30 times.

Using modern high-definition imaging, researchers discovered several letters and numbers etched into her eyes, which may be a secret left by Leonardo. On Mona Lisa's right eye, they found the letters “LV,” but the symbols on her left eye remain unclear. Some believe they are “CE,” while others argue they could be “B” or “S.”

As for the “LV” on the right eye, could it be an abbreviation for the great artist's name, Leonardo da Vinci? Known not only as a brilliant painter but also as a scientist and philosopher, Leonardo often used letters and numbers to encode messages for his viewers.

Despite over 500 years of history, even the best preservation cannot restore the painting to its original clarity, making it impossible to uncover all the secrets Leonardo may have concealed. To this day, there is no definitive answer to the many mysteries in the Mona Lisa, including the true identity of the woman in the painting, which remains an enigma.

To the untrained eye, the Mona Lisa may seem like a perfect painting, even a masterpiece beyond perfection. However, many historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci had plans to add more, but never had the opportunity to finish. In fact, for the last five years of his life, Leonardo stopped painting, and the Mona Lisa was one of the works left incomplete.

There have been several theories proposed to explain this unfinished state. In 2005, historian Alessandro Vezzosi discovered a portrait of Leonardo with his arm wrapped in some form of bandage. Vezzosi theorized that the right side of Leonardo's body was paralyzed. Though Leonardo was left-handed, he painted with his right hand, which may have led to difficulties that prevented him from completing the Mona Lisa.

Before the Mona Lisa, there was the Isleworth Mona Lisa. This painting shares many details with the Mona Lisa, such as the pencil-thin eyebrows and the other features, but with a significantly younger face and a different background.

The ‘Isleworth’ painting was discovered just before World War I in an old manor in Somerset, England. Some historians believe that the subject of this painting is Lisa Gherardini, ten years before the iconic Mona Lisa was created. A 2012 research conference concluded that the ‘Isleworth’ painting was actually created by Leonardo da Vinci as a preliminary sketch for the famous ‘Mona Lisa’.

However, many scholars remain uncertain about the origins of the painting and whether Leonardo truly painted it. The primary difference is that the ‘Isleworth’ is painted on canvas, while the later ‘Mona Lisa’ was painted on wood.

It is widely believed that the Mona Lisa was commissioned in 1503 by Lisa's husband, Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy merchant. However, it is clear that Francesco and his wife never received the painting.

Leonardo worked on the Mona Lisa for four years, but he continued refining it for many years afterward. He even took it with him to France, where King François I purchased the painting for 4,000 écus. Aside from a brief theft from the Louvre Museum 400 years later, the Mona Lisa has remained in France ever since.

Other theories suggest that the painting was never meant to be a portrait of any one person, and therefore, it was never handed over to the subject. Instead, Mona Lisa may be a composite of several women, representing Leonardo’s ideal of womanhood.

Another theory posits that the Mona Lisa is entirely a product of Leonardo’s imagination. Of course, none of these theories have been conclusively proven.

One reason Lisa del Giocondo may never have received the Mona Lisa is because she wasn’t the actual model. A theory suggests that Mona Lisa might actually be a self-portrait of the great artist Leonardo da Vinci.

In 2010, researchers began investigating the self-portrait theory by attempting to exhume the remains of the late artist. They planned to perform carbon dating and DNA tests to verify the tomb’s contents belonged to Leonardo. However, experts were unsure if the grave in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert in the Loire Valley of France actually contained his remains, as his original resting place at Chateau d'Amboise had been destroyed during the French Revolution.

While the self-portrait theory remains speculative, considering Leonardo’s clever and bold nature—known for his love of puzzles, symbols, and hidden meanings—it’s tempting to think that he might have hidden something more than just his own face in the painting.

The 'undetermined' model, Lisa del Giocondo, historically gave birth to six children, and Leonardo da Vinci may have painted her after the birth of one of them. When researchers created a 3D image of Mona Lisa, they found evidence suggesting the scarf draped over her shoulder is translucent. This thin veil, called a "guarnello," was commonly worn by pregnant women during the Italian Renaissance.

Historians believe that the painting was commissioned by Lisa’s husband, Francesco, to commemorate the birth of their second son. Given that Leonardo started painting in 1503, it aligns perfectly with the birth of their son Andrea in 1502. The 3D scan also revealed Mona Lisa's true hairstyle, most of her hair is styled up and her head is covered by the veil.

It’s hard to recognize this detail today due to the gradual darkening of the painting over time.

The iconic Mona Lisa measures 77 cm by 53 cm and is one of the most famous works of art worldwide. This masterpiece has been the target of several attacks over the years.

In 1956, a man threw sulfuric acid at the painting, damaging its lower section. Just months later, a Bolivian visitor hurled a rock at it. As a result, the Louvre Museum enhanced its security, making Mona Lisa one of the most carefully protected paintings in the world.

On May 29, 2022, a man disguised with a wig and in a wheelchair approached the artwork at the Louvre. Once near the painting, he ripped off his wig and splashed the painting with cream, shouting, “Some people are destroying the Earth, think of the Earth.” Fortunately, the painting was unharmed due to its bulletproof glass cover, and the man was swiftly escorted out by security.

The portrait of Mona Lisa, displayed in the Louvre Museum, is protected by bulletproof glass and draws thousands, sometimes tens of thousands, of visitors daily. The question of why Mona Lisa became the most famous painting in the world has intrigued many.

Some earlier theories suggest that the painting's fame is due to its creator, the mysterious smile of Mona Lisa, or the many myths surrounding it. However, these answers have failed to satisfy the masses.

Ultimately, as noted by Britannica, the most widely accepted explanation is: “There’s no single reason.” The painting's fame is the result of a combination of factors and circumstances. CNN further claims that Mona Lisa’s global recognition is thanks to a daring theft over 100 years ago.

In 1911, a dedicated Louvre employee named Vincenzo Peruggia stole the painting. The theft was surprisingly simple. Vincenzo had been hired to install protective glass for valuable artworks, including the Mona Lisa. He hid overnight in a wardrobe and then slipped the painting into his coat, leaving the museum unnoticed. However, the building had been locked, and it was only when a plumber passed by and unlocked the door that Vincenzo made his escape. It took 24 hours before anyone realized the painting was missing. At the time, the Louvre had over 400 galleries and 200 guards, with fewer at night and no alarm system in place.

Vincenzo never anticipated that his act would make Mona Lisa world-famous. The French press had an unforgettable day, with news of the theft appearing on the front pages of newspapers around the world.

In December 1913, police caught Vincenzo, and the Mona Lisa was recovered. The 32-year-old thief was sentenced to seven months in prison. He claimed his motive was to return the painting to its rightful home in Italy.

Over the years, the Mona Lisa's allure has only intensified. In 1962, the painting was insured for $100 million, an amount now equivalent to $700 million, making it the world's most valuable painting, displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

A replica of the Mona Lisa, auctioned by Artcurial, is said to be so similar to the original that even artists familiar with Da Vinci's works have a hard time telling them apart. This 1600s version is expected to fetch between $173,000 and $230,000 at auction.

In June 2021, a European collector purchased another 17th-century replica for €2.9 million (around 80 billion VND) at a Christie's auction in Paris, setting a new record for a replica's price.

In 2017, the same auction house also sold Da Vinci's "Salvator Mundi" in the U.S. for an astounding $450 million.

The Value of the Original

Perhaps only in the visual arts (and partly in sculpture) does the concept of "original" truly apply. No matter how beautiful a copy or print may be, it is always considered a replica and only serves as a reference, as the unique creative mark is no longer present.

Furthermore, according to the capitalist principle of money for goods, the owner of the original artwork is always worth more than the owner of the original manuscript, score, or script, as the original painting is a complete artistic work, while written works or performances need to be printed or staged to become finished pieces. Thus, the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum is a one-of-a-kind treasure, and those who wish to see it must visit in person. It is truly the most beautiful painting, the only treasure of its kind in the world.

A Painting and Character Full of Soul, as if Speaking to the Viewer

The primary standard for portrait painting is resemblance, regardless of the artist's style—whether Realism, Impressionism, or Cubism. Not only does the Mona Lisa accurately capture her beauty, but the painting is also considered to have "soul"—a term in art used to describe a character with depth, personality, and presence. This is incredibly rare in portraiture, where it is difficult to create a figure that feels alive, with emotion and individuality.

Specifically, in the Mona Lisa, the figure gazes directly at the viewer, and though silent for eternity, her smile remains subtly alluring, as if inviting a deep, intimate conversation. Those who appreciate portraiture know there are countless ways to depict a face, but the way Lisa's gentle, feminine expression seems to gaze into the soul of each viewer is truly rare. This is the "soul" that few artists can achieve, and only in moments of transcendence can even the greatest artists produce such depth.

Leonardo da Vinci Chose a Difficult Approach: Painting a Landscape Background

Most portrait artists opt for simple backgrounds, such as a wall or cloth, to focus on the face, which is the focal point and the most challenging part. But in the Mona Lisa, instead of a plain background, Leonardo chose a sweeping landscape with roads, trees, mountains, and clouds. Though the natural scene is prominent, it is blurred behind the subject, allowing her to remain the focal point. Only a few artists have successfully executed such a complex background, and Leonardo remains unparalleled.

The Mona Lisa's Face Follows the Golden Ratio with a Spiral Structure

In the painting, Mona Lisa's face is perfectly enclosed in a golden rectangle, and the rest of the composition follows a spiral pattern of the golden ratio, showcasing Leonardo's mastery of symmetry and proportion.

The Painting Creates Three Visual Illusions

• The enigmatic smile
• Her eyes seem to follow each viewer, no matter where they stand
• The two horizon lines are slightly tilted at different angles