Part 1 of 5 · freeIntroduction
For one of the most famous paintings in the world, very little is known for certain about the Mona Lisa. Art historians agree on the essentials: Leonardo da Vinci painted it in Florence between 1503 and 1506. In 1517, he carried it with him to France, and the panel ended up in the collection of King Francis I.
Legends have filled the historical vacuum. The painting is spoken of as a woman, "she." Her half-smile is called mysterious. After the theft of 1911, even its authenticity was questioned. All these stories made its fame, but they pushed its context aside. Yet at the time Leonardo painted it, the work may not have mattered to him at all.
The rest is in the Sophia app.The remaining parts, the open-book quiz and the full glossary. Free to start; Premium unlocks everything.
- 2Who is the Mona Lisa?
- 3Anghiari: a more prestigious commission
- 4The making of an icon
- 5A painting that outgrew its author
Open-book quiz8 questions whose answers are in the text.
Glossary6 terms explained in a tap.
30 languagesThe same course, from French to Japanese.
