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Lifestyle
Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

Who really was Mona Lisa? More than 500 years on, there’s good reason to think we got it wrong

Leonardo da Vinci Robert Payne Aragon Renaissance United States Wikimedia
A Mona Lisa painting from the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci, held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. Collection of the Museo del Prado

In the pantheon of Renaissance art, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa stands as an unrivalled icon. This half-length portrait is more than just an artistic masterpiece; it embodies the allure of an era marked by unparalleled cultural flourishing.

Yet, beneath the surface of the Mona Lisa’s elusive smile lies a debate that touches the very essence of the Renaissance, its politics and the role of women in history.

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