B : The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous
paintings in the world. It was painted by the
great Italian artist, Leonardo da Vinci, between
the years 1503 and 1505. The portrait was done
with oil paint on a simple piece of wood. The
portrait shows a woman in front of a landscape
with mountains. Many people believe that the
model for the painting was the wife of an important
man in the area. However, some people now
think that da Vinci actually drew a picture of
himself. They say the face looks similar to his.
Apparently, da Vinci loved the painting so much
that he carried it with him at all times until he
sold it to the king of France.
The portrait is famous for several reasons.
The best-known reason is for Mona Lisa’s
unusual smile. It is difficult to say if she is being
pleasant or looking arrogant. Another reason
the painting is famous is that it was stolen from
an art museum in 1911. Both France and Italy
sent people to look for the lost painting. It was
then found two years later in a hotel in France.
It is currently on display at the Louvre Museum
in Paris. People from all over the world go to the
museum each year to see the Mona Lisa. In fact,
the painting has so much appeal today that it
has been copied many times.