If someone asked you to name a famous painting, what would you say? I would answer The Mona Lisa, probably the most important painting in existence today. For my research project, I will analyze, narrate and explore the Mona Lisa. I chose this artwork because I love art and I just wanted to know why the Mona Lisa is such a well-known painting. The Mona Lisa was created by Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. It was started around 1503 in the city of Florence, Italy. In 1503, according to the Louvre Museum's official website, an Italian silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo came to Léonci to ask for a portrait of his wife, Lisa Gherardini. The painting was oil paint on poplar wood canvas. Today it is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, in the format 77x53 centimeters. In Italy, the Mona Lisa is called La Gioconda. However, in France, it is called La Mona Lisa. It is known that the name Mona Lisa translates to my lady, Lisa, being the name of the wife of Franceso del Giocondo. No one really knows why the Mona Lisa was created, but one theory was that it was created to commemorate Francesco and Lisa's second son, Andrea. After Leonardo's death, the painting was brought by the King of France. From there, it hung on the walls of the Palace of Fountainebleau for several generations. Over the years, the Mona Lisa has occupied different places, even on the walls of Napoleon's rooms. Many historians ask themselves an important question: where is the second Mona Lisa? You might be confused, so let me clarify. Leonardo is known to own another painting of the original, meaning he created two versions of the same painting. To support this claim, two versions of a painting by Leo ...... middle of paper ...... work of art perhaps depicting a remarkable woman. It resembles works of art from the 16th century and what can be made with fewer materials than today. Although the Mona Lisa remains a historical mystery, just one look at her captivates you and you can already imagine the story behind her. So, when you visit France, come to the Louvre Museum. Will you be truly impressed or will you just pass by without a glance? Works Cited1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TckJwAV81k2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISowhGz5wnk3) http ://history1900s.about.com/od/famouscrimesscandals/a/monalisa_2.htm4) http://monalisa.org/category/historical-evidence/5) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa6) http ://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/mona_lisa/mlevel_1/mtimeline.html7) http://lairweb.org.nz/leonardo/mona.html8) http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/mona_nav /main_monafrm.html