Which artist painted the Mona Lisa?

The enigmatic smile of this world-famous portrait is the work of the ultimate Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci. He began the oil-on-panel painting around 1503 in Florence, Italy, and is thought to have worked on it for several years, possibly up to the end of his life. The work is a masterclass in artistic technique and human observation, representing a culmination of Leonardo's lifelong studies in science and anatomy.

The subject is widely believed to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant named Francesco del Giocondo, which is why the painting is also known by the title *La Gioconda*. A key reason for its captivating quality is Leonardo's pioneering use of the *sfumato* technique, a method of softening the transition between colors to create a hazy, almost smoky, effect. This is particularly noticeable around the corners of the eyes and mouth, contributing to the famous ambiguity of the subject's expression.

While always respected, the painting's global fame skyrocketed after it was stolen from the Louvre Museum in 1911. The two-year media frenzy surrounding its disappearance and eventual recovery cemented its status as an unmistakable cultural icon. Leonardo was so attached to the work that he never delivered it to its commissioner, keeping it with him until his death in France, which is how it ultimately entered the French royal collection.