Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda (La Joconde) is a 16th-century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo Da Vinci during the Italian Renaissance. It is arguably the most famous painting in the world, and few other works of art have been subject to as much scrutiny, study, mythologizing and parody. E.H. Gombrich, The Story of Art. Retrieved 2007-1-15 It is owned by the French government and hangs in the MusÊe du Louvre in Paris, France with the title Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The painting, a half-length portrait, depicts a woman whose gaze meets the viewer's with an expression often described as enigmatic. The ambiguity of the sitter's expression, the monumentality of the half-figure composition, and the subtle modeling of forms and atmospheric illusionism were novel qualities that have contributed to the painting's continuing fascination. The Louvre web site. Retrieved on 2008-1-15
Artist and early history
(1452?1519)]]Leonardo da Vinci beg
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona Lisa