In simple terms
The Mona Lisa is a portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th century, widely regarded as the single most famous painting in the world. [2]
What it’s about
Leonardo began the portrait around 1503, and evidence suggests he continued working on and refining it for years, possibly up until near the end of his life. [1] The sitter is generally identified as Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo, which is why the painting is also known in Italian as “La Gioconda.” Leonardo used a technique called sfumato, blending colors and tones so softly that outlines appear to dissolve into shadow, which gives the sitter’s expression, especially her famously ambiguous smile, much of its enigmatic quality.
The painting eventually came into the French royal collection and has hung in the Louvre Museum in Paris since the early 19th century, where it remains on permanent public display behind protective glass, a measure put in place after past security incidents. [2]
Why it matters
Beyond its artistic qualities, the painting’s theft from the Louvre in 1911, and its highly publicized recovery two years later, generated enormous press coverage that helped turn it from a celebrated painting among art experts into a global cultural icon recognized far beyond art circles. [2]
Where you’ll see it
- The Louvre Museum in Paris, where millions of visitors view it each year
- Countless reproductions, parodies, and references across popular culture
- Art history courses on the High Renaissance and Leonardo’s technique
- Study of sfumato and portraiture techniques
Example
The painting’s relatively small size, about 77 by 53 centimeters, often surprises first-time visitors who expect, based on its outsized fame, a much larger canvas.
Often confused with
Leonardo da Vinci painted several other famous works, including The Last Supper, a very different mural depicting a religious scene with many figures; the Mona Lisa is specifically his small, single-subject portrait, not a representative example of his work as a whole.
Key facts
- Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa around 1503 and is believed to have continued refining it for years afterward.1
- The sitter is generally identified as Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant named Francesco del Giocondo, which is why the painting is also known in Italian as La Gioconda.1
- The painting has hung in the Louvre Museum in Paris since the early 19th century and is displayed behind protective glass due to its fame and past security incidents.2
- Its theft from the Louvre in 1911, and recovery two years later, significantly boosted the painting's global fame.2
Quick checkWhat single event in the early 20th century is widely credited with dramatically increasing the Mona Lisa's global fame?Show answer
Its theft from the Louvre in 1911 and highly publicized recovery two years later, which generated enormous press coverage and made the painting famous well beyond art circles.
Sources
Editorially reviewed by Last reviewed November 1, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue