Why is the Mona Lisa so famous?
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The Dawn of a Crime: The Theft of the “Mona Lisa”
As dawn broke over Paris on August 21st, 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia hoisted Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” off the wall of the Louvre and slipped down the back stairs. He was close to freedom, the exit just before him, when he encountered a two-pronged problem: the door was locked, and footsteps were approaching.
A Masterpiece’s Origins: The Making of the “Mona Lisa”
Leonardo is thought to have started the portrait in 1503, at the request of a Florentine businessman who wanted a portrait of his wife, Lisa Gherardini. He continued working on the painting for more than ten years, but it was unfinished by the time he died. Over his lifetime, Leonardo conducted groundbreaking studies on human optics, which led him to pioneer certain artistic techniques that can be seen in the “Mona Lisa.”
From Private Possession to Public Display: The Journey of the “Mona Lisa”
The painting became the private possession of kings and emperors, and the “Mona Lisa” became an international symbol of artistic genius. King Francois the First of France purchased the painting and began displaying it after Leonardo’s death. Italian scholar Giorgio Vasari’s popular biography of Italian Renaissance artists helped make the “Mona Lisa” one of the most enviable pieces in the French Royal Collection. It hung in Napoleon’s bedroom and eventually went on public display in the Louvre Museum.
The Emergence of a Global Celebrity: The “Mona Lisa” in the 19th and 20th Centuries
In the 1800s, the “Mona Lisa” was hyped up by a series of European scholars who praised her allure and beauty. By the 20th century, the portrait was a well-known piece in the Louvre, but it wasn’t yet a household name. This changed in 1911 when the painting was famously stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a theft that made international headlines and catapulted the “Mona Lisa” to unprecedented fame.
The Return and Enduring Legacy of the “Mona Lisa”
For two years, Peruggia kept the painting in a false-bottom suitcase, then smuggled it to Italy and arranged to sell it to a Florentine art dealer. With the mystery solved, the “Mona Lisa” went back on display to large crowds, and its fame only continued to grow. In the following decades, the painting became a target for various attacks, a muse for songs and other artworks, and a continued source of fascination for millions of visitors each year.
Today, the “Mona Lisa” remains one of the most famous and recognizable artworks in the world, a testament to Leonardo da Vinci’s exceptional artistic talent and vision, as well as a symbol of the enduring appeal of timeless beauty and the enduring mystery of art.
Discussion Questions
- What made Leonardo da Vinci a pioneer in the art world?
- How did the “Mona Lisa” become an international symbol of artistic genius?
- How did the painting’s fame change throughout history?
- What role did Italian scholar Giorgio Vasari’s biography play in the painting’s fame?
- Why was the “Mona Lisa” stolen in 1911, and what was the outcome?
- How did the “Mona Lisa” become a global celebrity in the 20th century?
- How have different people and groups interacted with the “Mona Lisa” throughout history?
- Why is the “Mona Lisa” protected by a bulletproof and earthquake-safe case today?
Lesson Vocabulary
Painting – An artistic expression, usually on a two-dimensional surface, using a range of colors, tones, and textures. – Example sentence: The painting depicts a beautiful sunset with various shades of yellow, orange, and pink.
Leonardo da Vinci – An Italian Renaissance polymath and the author of the Mona Lisa. – Example sentence: Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Mona Lisa has been called the most famous painting in the world.
Louvre – A museum in Paris, France, which houses the Mona Lisa. – Example sentence: The Mona Lisa is currently on display as part of the permanent collection of the Louvre.
Mona Lisa – An oil painting on a poplar panel created by Leonardo da Vinci and housed in the Louvre. – Example sentence: The Mona Lisa has been widely acclaimed for its use of sfumato and its mysterious atmosphere perspective.
Renaissance – A period in European history marked by a revival of interest in the classical world, in particular Ancient Greece and Rome. – Example sentence: The Renaissance saw the rediscovery of ancient texts, the emergence of new forms of art, and the development of scientific knowledge.
Florentine – A person or thing from Florence, Italy. – Example sentence: The Mona Lisa is an iconic Florentine work of art, painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
Atmosphere Perspective – A type of perspective in painting that creates an illusion of depth and distance by using blurred outlines, muted colors, and atmospheric haze. – Example sentence: The Mona Lisa is known for its use of atmosphere perspective, which gives the painting a surreal and ethereal quality.
Sfumato – An Italian painting technique that uses subtle transitions of color and tone to create an illusion of depth and atmosphere. – Example sentence: The Mona Lisa is famous for its use of sfumato, which creates a soft and dreamlike effect.
French Royal Collection – A collection of artwork and artifacts owned by the royal family of France. – Example sentence: The French Royal Collection includes works by renowned painters such as Rembrandt and Monet.
Napoleon’s bedroom – The bedroom of the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. – Example sentence: Napoleon’s bedroom in the Tuileries Palace is said to have contained a replica of the Mona Lisa.
Giorgio Vasari – An Italian painter and writer, best known for his biographies of Italian Renaissance artists. – Example sentence: Giorgio Vasari wrote extensively about the work of Leonardo da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa.
Alfred Dumesnil – A French art critic and professor who wrote about the Mona Lisa. – Example sentence: Alfred Dumesnil published several essays on the Mona Lisa, including its influence on later painters.
Théophile Gautier – A French poet and novelist who wrote about the Mona Lisa. – Example sentence: Théophile Gautier’s description of the Mona Lisa as a “portrait of an enigmatical woman” has become famous.
Walter Pater – An English art critic, essayist, and writer who wrote about the Mona Lisa. – Example sentence: Walter Pater described the Mona Lisa as an “eternal expression of beauty and grace.”
Vincenzo Peruggia – An Italian thief who stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911. – Example sentence: Vincenzo Peruggia was arrested two years after stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre and sentenced to seven months in prison.
Pablo Picasso – A Spanish painter, sculptor, and printmaker who is widely considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. – Example sentence: Pablo Picasso’s painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon has been compared to the Mona Lisa in terms of its influence on modern art.
Marcel Duchamp – A French artist best known for his ready-made sculptures and his influence on the development of modern art. – Example sentence: Marcel Duchamp’s painting Nude Descending a Staircase has been compared to the Mona Lisa in terms of its influence on modern art.
Nazi art thieves – Individuals associated with the Nazi regime who stole artworks from Jewish owners during the Holocaust. – Example sentence: Nazi art thieves looted thousands of artworks, including famous masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa.
Nat King Cole – An American singer and jazz musician who famously sang a hit version of the song “Mona Lisa”. – Example sentence: Nat King Cole’s version of the song “Mona Lisa” topped the charts in 1950.
Bulletproof – Resistant to damage by bullets. – Example sentence: The Louvre had to install bulletproof glass to protect the Mona Lisa from potential attacks.
Earthquake-safe case – A case designed to protect an object from damage in the event of an earthquake. – Example sentence: The Mona Lisa was placed in an earthquake-safe case to protect it from seismic activity.
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- Categories: Art, TED Ed, Video Lessons
- Keywords: Alfred Dumesnil, atmosphere perspective, bulletproof, Florentine, French Royal Collection, Giorgio Vasari, Leonardo da Vinci, Louvre, Marcel Duchamp, Mona Lisa, Napoleon’s bedroom, Nat King Cole, Nazi art thieves, Pablo Picasso, painting, Renaissance, sfumato, Théophile Gautier, Vincenzo Peruggia, Walter Pater
