Leonardo's brush and the birth of a mystery
The heist that shocked the world
Becoming a global pop culture icon
The science behind the bulletproof glass
Why is the air inside the Mona Lisa's glass case kept at a strict 50% relative humidity?
What hidden detail did engineer Pascal Cotte discover on the Mona Lisa using a 240-megapixel multispectral camera?
andy Multispectral scanning has revealed hidden underdrawings and changes Leonardo made during painting.
What structural issue on the back of the Mona Lisa's wood panel do Louvre conservators closely monitor?
andy Unlike most modern paintings, the Mona Lisa is painted on a fragile piece of poplar wood.
What high-tech feature protects the Mona Lisa from physical attacks and environmental damage?
In 1956, how was the Mona Lisa damaged by a Bolivian visitor named Ugo Ungaza Villegas?
Priceless protection: The Mona Lisa is considered priceless under French heritage law, meaning it cannot be bought, sold, or insured for money.
What color was the sky in the Mona Lisa's background before the varnish oxidized over centuries?
Why does the Louvre Museum refuse to clean or restore the yellowed varnish on the Mona Lisa?
A tough safety glass made by bonding layers of glass with a flexible plastic interlayer. In 1956, the Louvre used this material to protect Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait from vandalism.