Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Who is believed to be the woman in the Mona Lisa?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, 1503–19; in the Louvre, Paris.
The identity of the woman in the Mona Lisa remains a subject of historical debate, as no definitive proof exists. However, the most widely accepted theory is that the sitter is Lisa del Giocondo (née Gherardini), the wife of a Florentine silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo. This identification was first suggested in 1550 by the artist biographer Giorgio Vasari, and it is the reason the painting is often referred to as La Gioconda.12
Other theories have been proposed by scholars and historians over the years, though none have been confirmed:
- Leonardo’s Mother: Some, including Sigmund Freud, suggested the model may have been the artist’s mother, Caterina, theorizing that the smile was an unconscious memory.1
- Self-Portrait: Another hypothesis suggests the painting is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci, noting a physical resemblance between the artist and the sitter.1
Attempts in the 21st century to resolve the debate through DNA testing of remains believed to be those of Lisa del Giocondo have proven inconclusive.1