10 riddles of the “Mona Lisa” by the great Leonardo, which scientists are still struggling with today

There is an opinion that “a picture is better than a thousand words.” But Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has forced historians, art historians, and ordinary people to talk about themselves for hundreds of years. This small portrait, which is exhibited in the Louvre, is called “the most famous, most discussed and most parodied in the world.” And in-depth studies of this canvas, which were carried out at different times, revealed many interesting secrets.

1. Who is she?
The true identity of the woman depicted in the portrait remains a mystery. Most scholars believe this woman is 24-year-old Lisa Maria de Gerardini (aka Lisa del Giocondo), an Italian noblewoman who was born in Florence in 1479. The portrait was commissioned by Lisa’s husband, Francesco di Bartolomeo di Zanobi del Giocondo, a merchant of silk and fabric. She gave birth to five children: Pierrot, Andrea, Camilla, Giocondo and Marietta. Continue reading →