Mona Lisa's smile deciphered
2007-01-19 11:40
Florence - An Italian scholar says Mona Lisa depicted in the world-famous
painting by Leonardo da Vinci was buried in Florence, the Ansa news
agency reported on Thursday.
Giuseppe Pallantini claims to have found the exact location of
the Mona Lisa's remains on the basis of old documents from a
Florentine archive.
According to the sources Lisa Gherardini, as Leonardo's model
was called in real life, was buried in the convent of Sant'Orsola
at the heart of the Tuscan metropolis.
The building was now abandoned and derelict.
Da Vinci's model was the wife of Florentine tradesman Francesco del Giocondo and, according to the research, died in 1542 at the
age of 63.
The study had proven conclusively for the first time that Mona
Lisa really existed, the reports claimed.
The oil painting, which only measures 76.8 by 53 centimetres,
was probably created between 1503 and 1505. It is considered one of
the most famous pictures in the world and is now exhibited at the
Louvre in Paris.
- SAPA