The Mona Lisa is a famous half-length portrait painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, created between about 1503 and 1506, possibly worked on until 1517. It is considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance and is renowned worldwide for its enigmatic expression and subtle artistic qualities
. The subject of the painting is traditionally believed to be Lisa del Giocondo (née Gherardini), an Italian noblewoman from Florence. She was the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy silk merchant. The painting was likely commissioned by Francesco to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea
. Lisa was born in 1479, married Francesco in her teens, and lived a relatively ordinary life as a mother of six children
. The English name "Mona Lisa" comes from "Mona," a contraction of the Italian "ma donna" meaning "my lady," combined with Lisa's name. The Italian and French titles, La Gioconda and La Joconde , refer both to her married name and mean "jocund" or happy, reflecting the painting's subtle smile
. The Mona Lisa is now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. It gained additional fame after being stolen in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian patriot who wanted it returned to Italy. The painting was recovered two years later and has since been protected by bulletproof glass
. While Lisa del Giocondo remains the most accepted identity of the sitter, some alternative theories suggest other figures such as Isabella of Aragon, but these are less widely supported
. In summary, Mona Lisa is the portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, and is celebrated as one of the most famous and valuable artworks in the world
