Leonardo likely began the portrait around 1503 in Florence. However, unlike typical commission paintings of the era, Leonardo never delivered the work to the Giocondo family. He kept it with him for over 15 years, carrying it across the Alps when he moved to France to work for King Francis I. He was still tinkering with it until roughly 1517.
Let’s be honest. When you think of the Mona Lisa , you probably think of three things: the enigmatic smile, the long hair, and the crowds of people holding up cell phones at the Louvre. Monalisa
She looked back at her empty frame. It looked lonely—a hollow rectangle of wood and shadow. Leonardo likely began the portrait around 1503 in Florence