The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous and valuable paintings in the world. It was created by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci around 1503-1506 and currently hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris. But why does France own this iconic Italian masterpiece?
The short answer is that Leonardo da Vinci moved to France in 1516 at the invitation of King Francis I and he brought the Mona Lisa with him. Da Vinci spent the last years of his life living and working in France under the patronage of King Francis. When da Vinci died in 1519 at the age of 67, the Mona Lisa remained in France and was later acquired for the royal collections. It has been part of France’s national collection ever since.
But the full story behind why the Mona Lisa came to France and stayed there is more complex. It involves changes in political boundaries, art collection practices of French kings, purchases and gifts between royal families, the French revolution, and other twists of history. Understanding this fuller context provides insight into why this quintessentially Italian Renaissance portrait has been housed in Paris for centuries.
How did the Mona Lisa get to France?
Leonardo da Vinci was born and raised near the town of Vinci in the Republic of Florence, present day Italy. He created the Mona Lisa there around 1503-1506. At the time, the Italian peninsula was fractured into many independent city-states and territories, one of which was the Duchy of Milan.
In 1516, Leonardo accepted an offer to work for King Francis I of France who had just reclaimed the Duchy of Milan after centuries of conflict over control of the territory between France and the Dukes of Milan. As part of the arrangement, Leonardo moved to France, bringing some of his most famous works with him including the Mona Lisa.
Leonardo lived in the Château du Clos Lucé near the king’s residence at Château d’Amboise in France from 1516 until his death in 1519. The Mona Lisa is recorded in Francis I’s inventory of Leonardo’s works that he acquired for the royal collection after the artist’s death. So the painting entered the French royal collection in 1519.
Why did Leonardo da Vinci move to France?
Leonardo was already 64 years old when he accepted the French king’s invitation but he still desired patrons to sponsor and showcase his creativity. Some reasons Leonardo agreed to leave Italy and work for Francis I include:
- Leonardo’s career in Italy was stalling as the demand for his artistic and engineering skills diminished.
- The French king offered him a comfortable stipend as well as freedom to continue his painting, sculpting, inventing, and more.
- Moving to France provided safety and distance from turmoil in Italian politics at the time.
- Leonardo was intrigued by reports of the young king’s keen intellect and artistic tastes.
So the opportunity to work for an enthusiastic patron in the latter part of his life drew Leonardo to accept the French king’s offer. This decision brought the Mona Lisa to France.
French Royal Collections from Francis I to Louis XIV
Once part of King Francis I’s personal collection after da Vinci’s death, the Mona Lisa remained in the French royal inventory for over a century. Here is an overview of how the painting passed between kings:
1547 – With Francis I’s death, the painting passed to his son King Henry II.
1589 – Henry III inherited the Mona Lisa when he took the throne after the death of his brother Henry II.
1610 – After Henry III died without an heir, the painting went to his wife Marie de’ Medici who became queen regent for her son Louis XIII.
1643 – Louis XIII died and his son Louis XIV took the throne and royal collection as a child. The Mona Lisa remained part of the French Crown treasury.
So for over a hundred years after Leonardo’s death, the Mona Lisa was passed down through kings and queens of France. It was housed primarily at the royal palace of Fontainebleau during this period. The painting remained in good condition which suggests the French royals recognized its value early on.
Had Italy unified as a nation yet?
No, Italy would not unify and become a nation-state until the 19th century long after the Mona Lisa came to France.
In the early 16th century when Leonardo da Vinci was alive, the Italian peninsula was fractured into independent republics, duchies, city-states and territories like Milan, Florence, Venice, the Papal States, Genoa, and more. There was no single government or ruler of a unified Italian nation at the time.
The movement towards Italian unification (the “Risorgimento”) did not gain momentum until the 1830s and 1840s with the efforts of influential figures like Giuseppe Mazzini, Camillo Benso, and Giuseppe Garibaldi. Finally, in 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was declared with Victor Emmanuel II as its first king.
So during Leonardo’s lifetime and for centuries afterwards, there was no Italy as we know it today. The painter lived in politically fragmented territories that later coalesced into the nation of Italy in the 19th century.
How the Mona Lisa briefly returned to Italy
Although the Mona Lisa resided continuously in France for over 300 years after Leonardo’s death, it was briefly returned to Italy for a period of about 20 years from the end of the 18th century to the early 19th century.
In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte invaded northern Italy and seized control of part of the territory from the Austrian Habsburgs. As the French continued their military campaigns in Italy, Napoleon negotiated a treaty in 1796 to take priceless art treasures from Milan, Venice and other cities back to Paris. The Mona Lisa was among the hundreds of paintings and sculptures taken at this time.
The Mona Lisa was displayed at the Louvre Palace in Paris beginning in 1797 where it remained even after Napoleon’s fall from power. Visitors came to view the returned masterpiece in its specially designated “Salon Carre” room. The Mona Lisa grew more famous with the public during this time.
But in 1815 with Napoleon’s final defeat, the victorious Allies insisted that the artworks he had plundered be returned to their original locations and owners. So in 1815 the Mona Lisa was shipped back to Italy where it was housed in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery.
Finally in 1821, the heirless King Francis I of France’s descendant King Louis XVIII negotiated a treaty with the Austrian Habsburgs to permanently retain the Mona Lisa and some other paintings in France. The masterpiece was brought back to the Louvre where it has remained ever since.
When and how did the Louvre Museum open?
The Louvre Palace had been the main residence of French kings since the 13th century. But in 1793 during the French Revolution, the National Assembly voted to turn the palace into a public museum for the people.
The Louvre Museum opened on August 10, 1793 during the French Revolution. The revolutionary government confiscated royal and church property, declaring that the Louvre’s art collection would become property of the nation. Expanding public access to the masterpieces was seen as a sign of national progress.
The museum underwent renovations to prepare for visitors and artwork installations. When the Mona Lisa was first displayed after returning from Italy in 1797, it was hung in the Louvre’s Academie de Peinture room. Masterpieces like the Venus de Milo statue were also added to the collections during the 1800s.
By end of the 1800s, the Louvre’s reputation as a public art museum was firmly established. Expanding galleries displayed paintings and sculptures from all over Europe and other global cultures. Today the Louvre’s vast collections range from antiquities to 19th century art.
Mona Lisa’s Fame Grows
While French kings and queens had prized the Mona Lisa in their royal collection for centuries, it was not until the mid 19th century that the artwork became globally famous. Several key events spurred the painting’s notoriety:
- 1855 – Critic Théophile Gautier wrote that the Mona Lisa was becoming “the most famous work in the world” while it was exhibited in Florence briefly.
- 1869 – Early tourists started flocking to see the Mona Lisa in Paris, drawn by writing about the painting’s mystique.
- 1911 – The painting was stolen in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia. The theft and recovery two years later made international headlines, enhancing the artwork’s fame.
- Early 1900s – Reproductions and mass printing of the Mona Lisa spread its image widely.
By the early 20th century, the enigmatic half-smile of the Mona Lisa was recognizable around the globe. This iconic image had become a universally known symbol of art history and human civilization. The Louvre had secured its reputation as home to the greatest masterpieces of humanity.
Mona Lisa Today
Today over 10 million people per year visit the Louvre Museum and about 80% of them head straight to the room where the Mona Lisa hangs behind bulletproof glass and tourists jostling for a photo.
The mysterious woman gazing back at all these centuries of admirers has become an iconic symbol of humanity, artistry, mystery and imagination. The Mona Lisa’s fame has reached such legendary heights that most visitors are surprised by its modest size of 30 x 21 inches.
Experts frequently debate why the Mona Lisa became so famous and renowned. But what remains certain is that this understated portrait of an unknown woman continues to inspire awe around the globe as a crowning artistic achievement of civilization.
The story of how the Mona Lisa traveled from Italy to France and into the royal French collections reflects major trends in European history like the Renaissance, the fracturing and unifying of territories, the political rivalries between nations, and the evolving significance of art in society.
Ultimately France was able to permanently retain possession of the Mona Lisa following centuries of changes in ownership, location, and fame. The Louvre Museum now houses and safeguards the masterpiece, declaring its timeless value as property of all humanity to admire.
Conclusion
The Mona Lisa’s history and ownership reflects many key themes in European history during and after the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci initially painted his masterpiece in Italy. But through shifts in political boundaries and alliances, it was brought to France when Leonardo worked for King Francis I in the last years of his life.
The painting entered the French royal collection in 1519 after da Vinci died and remained there with kings, queens and emperors for centuries. Although it was briefly returned to Italy under Napoleon, victory treaties allowed France to reclaim the Mona Lisa. Its home has been the Louvre Museum since 1815 after centuries of changing national identities and rulers.
In the 19th century, the Mona Lisa grew famous worldwide and became an artistic icon of humanity. Millions now flock to the Louvre to admire this Renaissance portrait annually. The Mona Lisa’s long history with France reflects how art and power have been intertwined between nations and monarchs for centuries. Its enduring mystique continues to inspire and fascinate from its permanent home in Paris.