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| WIKIMEDIA COMMONS |
Things you didn't know about the Mona Lisa. Her light smile and timeless attractiveness have been the reason for inspiring academic study for more than five centuries. But the story of this intriguing painting in the Louvre is much richer than it appears.
1. “Mona Lisa” is not her real name:
The subject of the painting is Lisa Gherardini, the wife of the rich Francesco del Giocondo. This explains the less widespread title of this painting (Giocondo), or (Mona Lisa), as Italians prefer saying it, which means "My Lady Lisa".
2. Napoleon loved her so much:
The French Emperor had once hung the Mona Lisa in his bedroom, as he was supposed to enjoy her beauty for countless hours. His fascination with the painting is said to have inspired his love for a beautiful Italian named Teresa Guadagni, which was in fact a descendant of Lisa Gherardini.
3. It is smaller than you might think:
The effect of the Mona Lisa on culture is enormous, but the oil painting on wood measures only 30 x 21 inches and weighs 18 lbs.
4. Her eyebrows are controversial:
Some claim that her lack of eyebrows is a representative of high-class fashion of the time. Others insist that her hidden eyebrows are proof that the Mona Lisa is an unfinished masterpiece. But in 2007, detailed digital scans of the painting revealed that Da Vinci drew eyebrows and eyelashes in a bolder way. However, it is likely that both have simply faded over time or fall victim to years of restoration work.
5. She broke many hearts:
The portrait was first shown in the Louvre in 1815, inspiring admiration, as a string of "suitors bearing flowers, poems and impassioned notes climbed the grand staircase of the Louvre to gaze into her 'limpid and burning eyes.'"
6.Men died from her love:
In 1852, an artist named Luc Maspero threw himself from the fourth floor of a Parisian hotel, leaving a suicide note saying: “For years I have been grappling with her smile. I'd rather die. ” Then in 1910, a fan came in front of her just to shoot himself looking at her.
7. The painting sits in the most beautiful prison in the world:
The Mona Lisa has its own room in the Louvre, which is a climate-controlled room to keep it in an ideal environment. In addition, the plate is wrapped in bulletproof glass to prevent threat and injury.
8. It has already been attacked:
In 1956 a technical attacker put acid on the plate, hitting the lower section. These attacks inspired the development of bulletproof glass, which in 2009 managed to stop the damage caused by an angry Russian tourist who had been deprived of French citizenship.
9. France was collectively saddened when it was lost:
In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum. The New York Times displayed the public grief that appeared. Thousands flocked to the Louvre to stare in shock at the empty wall where it was hanging.