Which museum has the Mona Lisa?
Quick answer
The Mona Lisa is displayed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s, it’s arguably the most famous painting in the world. It hangs behind protective glass in the Louvre’s Salle des États.
Key facts
- Artist
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Painted
- About 1503–1519
- Size
- About 77 × 53 cm (30 × 21 in)
- Material
- Oil on a poplar wood panel
Who is she?
Most historians believe the sitter is Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo, which is why the painting is also called La Gioconda in Italian and La Joconde in French.
Why it’s so famous
- Her mysterious smile, which seems to change as you look at it
- Leonardo’s sfumato technique: soft, smoky blending without sharp outlines
- A dreamlike landscape background
- Her eyes seem to follow you around the room
- The dramatic 1911 theft
The 1911 theft
On August 21, 1911, Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia, who had worked at the Louvre, hid in the museum and walked out with the painting under his coat. It was missing for more than two years until he tried to sell it in Florence in 1913. The worldwide news coverage turned the painting into a global celebrity.
Seeing it in person
- The painting is smaller than many visitors expect.
- Crowds can be huge; arriving at opening time or on late-opening evenings helps.
- It’s behind bulletproof glass after attacks over the years, including thrown paint and, in 2024, soup, which didn’t harm the painting.
- The Louvre has announced plans for a dedicated new room for the Mona Lisa as part of a major renovation.
The Louvre
The Louvre, a former royal palace, is the most visited museum in the world, with millions of visitors each year. Its glass pyramid entrance, designed by I. M. Pei, opened in 1989.
For more art history, see who sculpted David and who painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
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