Has Monalisa’s grave really been found
The remains of the female subject of Da Vinci’s most famous painting may recently have been discovered in Florence; namely those of the ‘real’ Monalisa.
The remains of the female subject of Da Vinci’s most famous painting may recently have been discovered in Florence; namely those of the ‘real’ Monalisa.
Florence is one of the best places in the world to witness Renaissance architecture, artwork and sculpture; it’s no wonder that so many people choose to take a Florence tour, and immerse themselves in the culture of this incredible city. It was the centre of the Italian Renaissance and home to many legendary Renaissance figures, such as Michelangelo, Donatello and of course, Da Vinci. In fact, the remains of the female subject of Da Vinci’s most famous painting may recently have been discovered in Florence; namely those of the ‘real’ Monalisa.
The Monalisa, or in Italian ‘La Gioconda’, is one of the most talked about and written about paintings in history, and not only for its use of innovative artistic techniques; the hazy, soft focus effect named ‘sfumato’, and the ‘chiaroscuro’ light and shade concept. The most discussed element of this painting is of course the identity of the mysterious female subject, which has baffled art historians for hundreds of years. There have been many theories about who she was, including the idea that she was Da Vinci’s mistress, or perhaps even Da Vinci himself! However, the most widely accepted idea, which was put forward by the famous painter, architect and historian Vasari, is that the female subject was a woman named Lisa Gherardini. This woman was married to Francesco Del Giocondo, who was part of one of the most important families in Florence. It is believed that Gherardini entered a convent when her husband died, and later buried at Sant’Orsola in Florence.
Recently, the remains of a woman have been found in a crypt beneath the convent, and some say that they are those of Da Vinci’s famous female subject. After digging through thick concrete, archaeologists have uncovered various human bones, which may belong to Gherardini. It is uncertain that these bones all belong to the same person, and a skull is yet to be identified. Upon finding the skull, DNA can be extracted and it can also be analysed to see if the facial features match those of the famous Monalisa painting. Who knows, this centuries old mystery may finally be on its way to being solved…
If you want to explore the city of Florence and Da Vinci’s work even further, then the best way to do this is with an informative Uffizi tour. The construction of the Uffizi was led by Vasari, under the rule of Grand Duke Cosimo I, and has become one of the most visited locations in Florence. By taking one of our Uffizi tours, you can learn more about the legendary artist Da Vinci and view his famous ‘Annunciation’, as well as witnessing some of the most famous Renaissance works of art in existence, by artists such as Michelangelo, Titian, Giotto and Botticelli.
