She is the most famous painting in the world. Her name is Lisa Gherardini. We know her as Mona Lisa. This world famous piece of art was a portrait in oil painted on a poplar (wood) panel. The artist was Leonardo de Vinci. The artwork was done in 1503-1506. It is not a large piece of artwork, measuring 30 x 21 inches. The portrait hangs in the Musee du Louvre in Paris. No painting has ever been studied, stared at, parodied or mythologized like Mona Lisa. When I was a High School student in the late forties one of the most popular songs of the day was "Mona Lisa".
Mona Lisa wasn't always famous. It took many years for her to become an object of attention. Through it all she kept that mysterious little grin. It was almost wiped off her gentle face in 1911 when an Italian "patriot" who had once worked in the museum in Paris, and was also an artist, decided to steal Mona and take her to Italy where she really belonged, he thought. In a daring theft he carted her away under his artist's coat. She spent the next two years in a suitcase under his bed. When he attempted to sell her to an Italian art dealer who promised she would make her future home in Italy, he was caught, and after a whirlwind tour of Italy, she was taken back to Paris. Just a few years ago a crazed man threw acid on Mona. After months of treatment she survived. A slasher struck and gashed poor Mona. Being the survivor she is, Mona Lisa once again made it back to her place on the wall in the Louvre in Paris. Through it all she is still flashing that gentle smile to the faces of those who come to stare, and gasp, and nod their heads in quiet approval.
Were I offered any painting in the world to hang on my living room wall would it be Mona Lisa? Not hardly. She has had enough trouble. After seeing the antics of Calvin the poor lady would be laughing out loud. That would destroy her mystique forever. I would prefer a Norman Rockwell, or a Barnes or Cowen. Keep that smile Mona!
