Mona Lisa

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is an iconic masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. Painted in oil on a poplar panel, this half-length portrait is celebrated for its subject's enigmatic smile, atmospheric sfumato technique, and pioneering use of aerial perspective. Traditionally identified as Lisa del Giocondo, the sitter is set against an imaginary, winding landscape. Acquired by King Francis I of France, the painting has resided in the Louvre since 1797, surviving thefts and vandalism to become the world's most famous artwork. The Mona Lisa holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known insurance valuation for a painting.

Acquired by King Francis I of France after Leonardo's death in 1519; became property of the French Republic; on display at the Louvre since 1797.