In 2024, 8.7 million people visited The Louvre. And, if you take Louvre Director Laurence des Cars’ word, 80% of them went solely to see the Mona Lisa. From that perspective, I was in the minority who couldn’t be bothered. Even at the end of January, the queue was tremendous. I steered to the right and enjoyed the other Venetian works featured in the Salle des États, many of which I preferred to Mona. That is not to discredit Leonardo, but to prompt an obvious inquisition into why the Mona Lisa garners such fame.
My History with Art
I’d be lying by calling myself an art connoisseur. An aside, most people who grace themselves with this title are lying. I wouldn’t be lying by calling myself an art appreciator. Since leaving college, it’s become a joy to walk amongst great works, experiences of which have become a central point of many vacations. I’ve even contemplated generating my own someday, although many consider writing art, which I won’t dispute. The creation process is fascinating. Each work is a window into an artist’s psyche and the history of their environment: the perfect stimulation for an analytical mind.
I also believe art is to be enjoyed subjectively. There’s only one rule; what attracts you warrants closer examination. It’s Becoming Polymathic’s central theme of “allow your genuine interests to guide you” in practice. Anybody who attempts to dictate what is “good” or “bad” is driven by vanity, and also likely considers his or herself a connoisseur. As articulated in a previous piece, there’s fantastic joy in developing personal taste.
With that, back to Mona.
A Brief History of the Mona Lisa
In 1503 during his Second Florentine Period, Leonardo Da Vinci began work on the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of wealthy silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo. By this stage, Da Vinci was an established celebrity with several works in progress, most notably the Battle of Anghiari. The reason for the portrait is the first of many mysteries contributing to its allure. One theory suggests it was commissioned to decorate Francesco’s newly purchased family home, which offers a potential explanation to its large size (21” x 30”) as it may have been intended for a specific room. Another theory suggests it celebrated the birth of the family’s second son, Andrea, in December 1502. This would’ve been significant cause considering Lisa lost their daughter in childbirth in June 1499. This reasoning would provide explanation for Mona’s dark veil, a highly unusual detail for a portrait.
Leonardo hadn’t finished the work by the time he left Florence for Milan in 1508. He’d carry it with him for the rest of his life, never completing it. Following his death on April 15, 1519, Kind Francis I of France placed it in his private collection at Chateau Fontainebleau. Louis XIV then moved it to Versailles 100 years later where it stayed until the French Revolution. Following a four year stint in Napoleon’s bedroom at Tuileries Palace (now part of The Louvre), it was placed in The Louvre in 1804.
The Theft
Critics didn’t begin to appreciate the work until the 1860’s. Even then, it wasn’t the hallmark attraction it’s become. Works such as the Venus di Milo or the Coronation of Napoleon likely held that title. Then came August 21st, 1911. Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia, who helped construct its bulletproof glass casing, stole the portrait during a photographic archiving session of all the museum’s works. As such, the theft wasn’t reported until two days later, at which point it became international news. Different theories suggested J.P. Morgan, Pablo Picasso, and Kaiser Wilhelm II played a role in the heist as a means of eradicating French culture. Two years later, Peruggia was caught attempting to resell it to a Florentine dealer. Its status as a prized work was subsequently cemented, and further verified in 1962 when an insurance company valued it at $100 million, equivalent to a staggering $872 million today.
Why is the Mona Lisa Famous?
There is no denying its significance. The mystery surrounding its origin, the sfumato technique employed by Da Vinci, the theft, and the colossal monetary value all contribute to its aura. But why does it attract the masses more than any other artwork? Why is it placed at the forefront of Da Vinci’s contributions? The answer is not an easy one.
As a work of art, it’s certainly impressive when compared to other Venetian paintings. Da Vinci was obsessed with human anatomy and optics. I believe his work in this area is a far more significant contribution to art than the Mona Lisa. That said, the portrait is not striking. In fact, it’s quite muted compared to other works of the era. Certainly the works of Hieronymus Bosch, specifically The Garden of Earthly Delights, are far more captivating in terms of content, as are the frescos of the Sistine Chapel.
Furthermore, the Salvator Mundi, another disputed work of Leonardo’s, possesses an equal if not more intriguing mystique. It was discovered 500 years after its commissioning at an estate sale rather than transferred between French royal palaces. It was sold for a staggering number $450.3 million as opposed to being valued by a sixty year old insurance quote. Its origins are also in debate as the consensus of its attribution to Da Vinci is still questionable.
Fame is in the Eye of the Masses, Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
Referring to the introduction, I did not go to The Louvre to see the Mona Lisa; I went to see an unbelievable collection of art spanning centuries. Looking back at the photos I took, the breadth of what interested me is impressive. It is also telling of a larger lesson when discussing intentional personal development, a process heavily influenced by that of Mona’s creator. Society is not the governor of our life pursuits – we are. Though there is often logical reason behind collective interest, it should only serve, if anything, as a starting point. From there, it is our own curiosity that should drive us forward.
In terms of today’s subject, don’t disrespect The Louvre queuing for the Mona Lisa.
Be More.
Become Polymathic.
Quote of the Week: “The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions.” – Leonardo Da Vinci