MONA LISA to English speakers, La Jaconda to the French, La Gioconda to the Italians, this most recognisable of portraits from Western Art was started by that quintessential Renaissance man, the artist, architect, engineer, inventor and mathematician Leonardo da Vinci in 1503.
Francesco del Giacondo commissioned Leonardo to paint a portrait of his young wife Madonna Lisa, or Mona Lisa as we know her (Mona is short for Madonna). The Italian La Gioconda which means ‘happy’ is a play on Lisa Giacondo’s last name, which has the same meaning in French. This accounts for the painting having three titles, two of them referencing her pleased expression.

Why all the fuss about this small painting, and th