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Feb.13,2005 -Feb.20,2005 |
The mystery behind the Mona Lisa
Did La Gioconda really exist or da Vinci imagine her?
Originally Published: 2005-01-02
For centuries Mona Lisa has been one of the world's most enduring symbols of feminine allure. Was she the creation of Leonardo's da Vinci's imagination? Or was he inspired by a real woman in the streets of 16th century Florence?
Historians have debated Mona Lisa's identity for decades, with theories ranging from being his mother, a self-portrait or even a Florentine prostitute.
New research and a newly published book now support a claim first made almost 500 years ago — that she really existed and that she was the wife of a rich silk merchant.
Researcher Giuseppe Pallanti spent more than 25 years pouring over Florence's archives.
He came across land and marriage records written in the 1490s which he says prove that Mona Lisa existed — and that Leonardo's family was closely connected to her husband, Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy silk trader.
“These documents prove without a doubt that del Giocondo was a client of Leonardo's father, who was a famous notary in Florence,” Pallanti told CNN.
“And they also show how the families were closely connected and lived very close to each other. This is evidence, I believe, proving what historians wrote in the 16th century: that Mona Lisa was a real person.”
One of the places where Leonardo and Mona Lisa may have met is the Church of the Santissima Annunziata in the heart of Florence.
Mona Lisa came to Sunday mass here, and her husband is buried in the family chapel. Pallanti says the evidence proves “Mona Lisa was a real person.”
It's located next door to the convent where Leonardo was lodging when he began painting the famous portrait — a work of art known in Italy as “La Gioconda” — a corruption of her surname.
Historians have acknowledged Pallanti's meticulous effort to establish Mona Lisa's identity, but they also have expressed skepticism. The documents may prove that Leonardo knew Mona Lisa, but no records to date prove without a doubt that she was also his muse.
Pallanti wrote a short book about his findings and agrees his study may only confirm the existence of Mona Lisa. But after half a millennium, he says circumstantial evidence establishing a relationship is as close to reality as researchers will ever get.
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