The Mona Lisa
Short History Of...
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The Mona Lisa
Lisa Gerardini was the wife of a Florentine merchant called Francesco del Jocondo. She should be Mona with two ends, which is Mia Donna, my lady. But because Lisa Gerardini was not a famous woman, art sleuths have looked elsewhere for the identity of the sitter. Giorgio Vasare wrote that Leonardo engaged singers, musicians and jesters to keep her entertained so that she would appear cheerful.
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