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Culture TV & Movies Vespucci Notes Hold Key to Identity of Mona
Lisa The most recognized painting in the world, with her
enigmatic smile, Mona Lisa’s true identity may finally be
revealed due to the discovery of notes written in the margin of
a book in the Heidelberg University Library in Germany. Much of
the mystique of the "Mona Lisa" is her dubious identity being
the center of much debate. What we do know is that this portrait
was painted between 1502 and 1507, measures 21" X 30" and was
sold to King Francis I of France. The title, "Mona Lisa" never
appeared in any of Leonardo’s writings but was named by his
biographer Giorgio Vasari some 30 years (give or take 20 years)
after it was painted. In fact, Vasari never actually saw the
painting, but in his writings, "Lives of the Artists," he spoke
with men who had actually known Leonardo, so it is the best
biographical information we had u