Who owns the Mona Lisa'?

Answer 1

Artist, inventor, and original Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, began painting his portrait of an Italian nobleman's wife in 1503 and completed it some years later, probably around 1507. The painting was originally a commissioned work, but da Vinci didn't sell it to the man who requested it (possibly because he hadn't finished it yet!). Instead, he kept it and still had it in his possession when he arrived in France at the court of King Fran�ois I, around 1516. The French monarch eventually purchased "Mona Lisa" from da Vinci.

The painting became part of the French royal art collection. For several centuries, "Mona Lisa" was kept at palaces around France, including Amboise, Fontainbleau, Versailles, and the Tuileries. When the French Revolution struck in the late 18th century, the king was beheaded, and most of his palaces and possessions became property of the newly formed state. In 1793, the French government created a public art museum and used the old Louvre palace as its home. The "Mona Lisa" was displayed in this new museum.

This famous painting has remained in the Louvre as property of the French government ever since. But in 1911, it was stolen right off the wall by an Italian who wanted to return it to Italy, the painting's country of origin. Two years later, the "Mona Lisa" was found and returned to the Louvre. It has made only two journeys since then -- to the United States in 1963 and to Japan in 1974, both for hugely popular displays.

Answer 2

Artist, inventor, and original Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, began painting his portrait of an Italian nobleman's wife in 1503 and completed it some years later, probably around 1507. The painting was originally a commissioned work, but da Vinci didn't sell it to the man who requested it (possibly because he hadn't finished it yet!). Instead, he kept it and still had it in his possession when he arrived in France at the court of King Fran�ois I, around 1516. The French monarch eventually purchased "Mona Lisa" from da Vinci.

The painting became part of the French royal art collection. For several centuries, "Mona Lisa" was kept at palaces around France, including Amboise, Fontainbleau, Versailles, and the Tuileries. When the French Revolution struck in the late 18th century, the king was beheaded, and most of his palaces and possessions became property of the newly formed state. In 1793, the French government created a public art museum and used the old Louvre palace as its home. The "Mona Lisa" was displayed in this new museum.

This famous painting has remained in the Louvre as property of the French government ever since. But in 1911, it was stolen right off the wall by an Italian who wanted to return it to Italy, the painting's country of origin. Two years later, the "Mona Lisa" was found and returned to the Louvre. It has made only two journeys since then -- to the United States in 1963 and to Japan in 1974, both for hugely popular displays.

Answer 3

Artist, inventor, and original Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci, began painting his portrait of an Italian nobleman's wife in 1503 and completed it some years later, probably around 1507. The painting was originally a commissioned work, but da Vinci didn't sell it to the man who requested it (possibly because he hadn't finished it yet!). Instead, he kept it and still had it in his possession when he arrived in France at the court of King Fran�ois I, around 1516. The French monarch eventually purchased "Mona Lisa" from da Vinci.

The painting became part of the French royal art collection. For several centuries, "Mona Lisa" was kept at palaces around France, including Amboise, Fontainbleau, Versailles, and the Tuileries. When the French Revolution struck in the late 18th century, the king was beheaded, and most of his palaces and possessions became property of the newly formed state. In 1793, the French government created a public art museum and used the old Louvre palace as its home. The "Mona Lisa" was displayed in this new museum.

This famous painting has remained in the Louvre as property of the French government ever since. But in 1911, it was stolen right off the wall by an Italian who wanted to return it to Italy, the painting's country of origin. Two years later, the "Mona Lisa" was found and returned to the Louvre. It has made only two journeys since then -- to the United States in 1963 and to Japan in 1974, both for hugely popular displays.

Answer 4

It was bought by a wealthy South African Family in the 1600's and is now on permanent loan at the Louvre.