Mona Lisa Gherardini Men Have Named You

A year after researchers found the resting place of Lisa Gherardini and some of her living descendants, it has been confirmed that the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo was the model for da Vinci's most famous portrait.

[Library director Veit] Probst has now revealed that dated notes scribbled in the margins of a book at Heidelberg University library by its owner in October 1503, first found by Armin Schlechter, a manuscript expert, confirm once and for all that Lisa del Giocondo was indeed the model, and her husband most likely the man who commissioned the portrait. [Link]

Mona Lisa Smile Runs in the Family

Giuseppe Pallanti recently announced that he had found the resting place of Mona Lisa model Lisa Gherardini. Now a genealogist says he's found some of her living descendants.

"It's a matter of great emotion and great pride to learn that we are descended from La Gioconda," said Natalia Strozzi, 30, an actress. The subject of Leonardo's most famous painting is known as "La Gioconda" in Italy. "We had a vague knowledge of this family story, but the fact that it's been documented proves that it is true, which makes us take it more seriously." And what about the celebrated smile? "Yes," she went on, "once in a while a smile like that flits across our father's face, and that's the most convincing proof there is." [Link]

Natalia and her father stand on the left in this photo. A Tuscan engineer has offered to crawl around under the Florence convent to find what remains of Lisa. Only then can a side-by-side comparison of the smiles be made.

Mona Lisa Found Dead in Florence

An Italian researcher says that he has discovered Mona Lisa's resting place in Florence.

Leonardo scholar Giuseppe Pallanti said documents indicate she was buried in the city's former Convent of St. Orsula in the heart of the city, ANSA said Thursday.

"I've pored through thousands of archive pages and I'm convinced the remains of Leonardo's model Lisa Gherardini was buried there," Pallanti said. [Link]

Pallanti produced evidence in 2004 that Leonardo's father knew Lisa's husband, and suggested that the painting had been commissioned by Ser Piero da Vinci himself because Leonardo "was hopelessly vague when it came to money matters."