The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa is a painting of a woman with a small, mysterious smile. It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci in Italy. Today it hangs in the Louvre museum in Paris. It is the most famous painting in the world.

Who Made It?

Leonardo da Vinci was a genius from Italy. He started painting the Mona Lisa around 1503. Many people think the woman in the painting was named Lisa Gherardini. Leonardo worked on the painting for years.

The world-famous Mona Lisa painting with her mysterious little smile.
The world-famous Mona Lisa painting with her mysterious little smile. (Leonardo da Vinci / Wikimedia Commons)

Why Is It Famous?

People love the way the woman seems to smile at them. Her eyes seem to follow you around the room. The painting was stolen from the Louvre in 1911, which made it even more famous. It was found two years later.

Fun Facts

  • The Mona Lisa is smaller than many people think, only about 30 inches tall.
  • The painting is kept behind special bulletproof glass.
  • Millions of people visit the Louvre just to see her.

Did You Know?

The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows, and no one is completely sure why.