Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Go behind the painting with Art Deco at BehindThePainting.com
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Have you ever looked at the Mona Lisa and wondered why she’s so famous? 8 million people go to the Louvre every year just to see the Mona Lisa. But once they arrive, they only spend about 15 seconds actually looking at her. Which begs the question: Is the Mona Lisa REALLY worth the hype?
In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci was approached by a wealthy silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo to paint a portrait of his 24-year old wife, Lisa. What started as a run-of-the-mill portrait turned into Leonardo da Vinci’s magnum opus. A masterpiece the artist would continue working on until his death. A painting he would never part with.
The story of how the Mona Lisa became the most famous painting in the world is a messy one. In 1911, she was stolen from the Louvre by a man named Vincenzo Peruggia who falsely believed France possessed the painting because Napoleon Bonaparte stole it from Italy. The world was fascinated by the theft and it became a national scandal seemingly overnight. This event undoubtedly accelerated the Mona Lisa’s rise to fame.
That being said, if there were an alternate reality where the Mona Lisa was never stolen, I believe she would still be famous. The Mona Lisa had many admirers before the heist and she was created by one of the greatest geniuses who ever lived. In addition. Leonardo da Vinci used many innovative techniques to create the Mona Lisa. I think there’s a good chance Leonardo knew this was his greatest masterpiece and that’s why he never let her go. Thanks for watching!
Check out my coloring book! amzn.to/3R65V4I (ad)
I handmade this book by digitally sketching my favorite Van Gogh pieces. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!
#arthistory #monalisa #leonardodavinci #classicart #fineart #art
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Credits:
Smoke, fire, bubbles, goggles, hat and glasses effect from Vecteezy
Arcadia - Wonders by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100326
Artist: incompetech.com
Local Elevator by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300012
Artist: incompetech.com
Dreams Become Real by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500027
Artist: incompetech.com
Go behind the painting with Art Deco at BehindThePainting.com
Exclusive videos on the art you love 🎨 🖼️ New content every month!
Have you ever looked at the Mona Lisa and wondered why she’s so famous? 8 million people go to the Louvre every year just to see the Mona Lisa. But once they arrive, they only spend about 15 seconds actually looking at her. Which begs the question: Is the Mona Lisa REALLY worth the hype?
In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci was approached by a wealthy silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo to paint a portrait of his 24-year old wife, Lisa. What started as a run-of-the-mill portrait turned into Leonardo da Vinci’s magnum opus. A masterpiece the artist would continue working on until his death. A painting he would never part with.
The story of how the Mona Lisa became the most famous painting in the world is a messy one. In 1911, she was stolen from the Louvre by a man named Vincenzo Peruggia who falsely believed France possessed the painting because Napoleon Bonaparte stole it from Italy. The world was fascinated by the theft and it became a national scandal seemingly overnight. This event undoubtedly accelerated the Mona Lisa’s rise to fame.
That being said, if there were an alternate reality where the Mona Lisa was never stolen, I believe she would still be famous. The Mona Lisa had many admirers before the heist and she was created by one of the greatest geniuses who ever lived. In addition. Leonardo da Vinci used many innovative techniques to create the Mona Lisa. I think there’s a good chance Leonardo knew this was his greatest masterpiece and that’s why he never let her go. Thanks for watching!
Check out my coloring book! amzn.to/3R65V4I (ad)
I handmade this book by digitally sketching my favorite Van Gogh pieces. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!
#arthistory #monalisa #leonardodavinci #classicart #fineart #art
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Credits:
Smoke, fire, bubbles, goggles, hat and glasses effect from Vecteezy
Arcadia - Wonders by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100326
Artist: incompetech.com
Local Elevator by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1300012
Artist: incompetech.com
Dreams Become Real by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Source: incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500027
Artist: incompetech.com
