Leonardo and the MONA LISALeonardo da Vinci was a genius. He was a painter, philosopher, scientist, and inventor. He invented the parachute in 1480, sketched a design for a submarine and made detailed studies of the human anatomy. He believed that sight was the most important of the senses and he carefully studied the world around him, keeping detailed notes of what he saw. Strangely enough, he wrote his notes backwards, so that they must be held to a mirror to be read.

Leonard wouldn’t settle for a painting that was less than perfect. He would spend years working on a single painting, so he didn’t produce many works. In fact, only 17 of his paintings have survived, and some of these are not finished.

Leonardo spent four years painting “The Mona Lisa”. It’s his most famous painting-in fact, it’s the most famous painting in the world. You’ve probably seen “The Mona Lisa” before-in advertisements or on tee shirts.

No one is sure who the model for “The Mona Lisa” was. She’s thought to have been the wife of a merchant named Francesco del Giocondo, so the painting is more correctly known as The Gioconda.

What’s so special about “The Mona Lisa”? Many things. It’s a skillful painting that demonstrates Leonardo’s talent as an artist. It’s also an eerie combination of a real-looking woman against a fairytale background. Especially, it’s that mystic smile - a hint of a smile that’s kept people talking for nearly 500 years.

If “The Mona Lisa” were the only painting that Leonardo painted, the artist would still be called a genius.

Leonard Da Vinci painted “The Mona Lisa” between the years 1503-1506. It has become the top attraction of visitors to the Louvre museum in Paris, France. There are many facts about the painting that most people do not know.

“The Mona Lisa” is only 30x21 which is quite small. It is painted with oils on a poplar wooden panel. The true identity of the Mona Lisa is a mystery but most experts believe it was the wife of a 16-century Italian businessman, who commissioned the portrait.

In 1517 Leonardo was invited to live in France by King Francis I. After the king purchased it from Leonardo it became a part of France’s royal collection and that is how it got into the Louvre.

Not many people know that the “Mona Lisa” was stolen. On, Monday, the 21st of August 1911 it was taken from the Louvre. The museum employees did notice that the painting was not hanging in its usual place but they assumed the painting was taken by the museum photographer to his studio for shooting. When it wasn’t returned the next morning and wasn’t found in the photographer’s studio, museum officials were notified that the painting was stolen.

After the police were notified the whole museum was searched, which took a week because the Louvre covers 49 acres and runs along the Seine River for 2,200 feet. The only thing found was the heavy frame that once held the Mona Lisa. It was found in a staircase leading to a cloakroom.

Once the news became public, French newspapers made several claims as to the nature of the theft. One newspaper proclaimed that an American collector stole the work and would have an exact copy made which would be returned to the museum. This collector would then keep the original. Another newspaper said that the entire incident was a hoax to show how easy it was to steal from the Louvre.

Many people were questioned about the theft. Pablo Picasso was questioned. He had bought two stone sculptures from a friend named Pieret. Pieret had stolen these from the Louvre months before the Mona Lisa was stolen. Picasso though the perhaps Pieret might have stolen the Mona Lisa. Picasso gave back the sculptures back to the Louvre once he found out they were stolen and was cleared of knowing anything about the theft.

Twenty seven months after the “Mona Lisa” was stolen it was recovered. An Italian man named Vincenzo Perugia tried to sell it for $100,000 to the Uffizi Gallery. He said he stole it out of patriotism. He didn’t believe such a famous Italian work of art should be in France. What Perugia didn’t know was that it was sold to King Francis I for 4,000 gold coins by Leonardo himself, so it rightfully belonged to the French people.

Perugia stole the Mona Lisa by spending the night before hiding in an obscure little room. In the morning while the museum was closed he took the painting from the wall. In a staircase he cut the painting from it’s frame. He came upon a locked door on his way out and removed the doorknob to leave the Louvre.

Ten months before the painting was stolen the Louvre decided to have all masterpieces put under glass and Perugia was one of the men assigned to the job.

In 1974 the Japanese Government encased the Mona Lisa in a 157x98 inch box of triplex bulletproof glass. This box is kept at a constant 68 degrees and 55% humidity by a built in air conditioner. Each year the Mona Lisa’s box is given a check up to make sure it is working properly.

Instructions for “Mona”Portrait1. Review the examples of the Mona Lisa.2. Using the line drawing as a guide,

create a “Mona Lisa” in another style than “Realism”.

3.Review the examples following these instructions.

4.You can paint or drawing your “Mona”, but your medium should match the style.

5.Label the style you used.