Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th century and now hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
Here are ten fun facts about Mona Lisa:
1. The Mona Lisa is a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo.
2. The painting is thought to have been started around 1503 and completed around 1517.
3. It is believed that Leonardo used a real person as a model for the Mona Lisa, rather than just making up her features from his imagination.
4. The Mona Lisa measures 77 x 53 cm (30 x 21 inches).
5. Despite its small size, the Mona Lisa has had a huge impact on popular culture and has been reproduced countless times in everything from posters to coffee mugs to t-shirts.
6. In 1911, an Italian named Vincenzo Peruggia stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre and kept it hidden in his apartment for two years before he was caught and arrested!
7. After being returned to the Louvre, the painting was put on public display behind bulletproof glass to protect it from would-be thieves.
8. In 1956, someone threw acid at the painting while it was on display at another museum in Italy causing damage to some areas of the canvas; fortunately, these were later restored by experts.
9. During World War II, when Paris was occupied by Nazi Germany, Hitler ordered that the Mona Lisa be moved to Germany for safekeeping; thankfully she was recovered after Allied troops liberated Paris in 1944.
10. Today, the Mona Lisa is considered not only one of Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest works, but also one of humanity’s most treasured possessions.
