Lisa del Giocondo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lisa del Giocondo
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| Born |
Lisa Gherardini
June 15, 1479 Via Maggio, Republic of Florence
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| Died | July 15, 1542 (aged 63) Convent of Saint Orsola, Duchy of Florence
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| Known for | Subject of Mona Lisa |
| Spouse(s) |
Francesco di Bartolomeo di Zanobi del Giocondo
(m. 1495) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Antonmaria di Noldo Gherardini Lucrezia del Caccia |
Lisa del Giocondo (born Gherardini, June 15, 1479 – July 15, 1542) was an Italian noblewoman. She was a member of the Gherardini family from Florence and Tuscany. Her famous portrait, the Mona Lisa, was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Her husband asked Leonardo to paint it during the Italian Renaissance.
Not much is known about Lisa's life. She was born in Florence and married when she was a teenager. Her husband was a merchant who sold cloth and silk. He later became a local government official. Lisa had five children and lived a comfortable, ordinary middle-class life. She lived longer than her husband, who was quite a bit older than her.
Many years after Lisa died, the Mona Lisa became the world's most famous painting. It became famous on its own, separate from Lisa, the woman. Experts and art lovers have studied it, making it a globally recognized piece of art. In 2005, Lisa was officially confirmed as the model for the Mona Lisa.
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Lisa's Early Life and Family
Lisa's family in Florence was old and noble. However, they had lost some of their power over time. They were well-off but not super rich. They earned money from their farms. Florence was one of the biggest cities in Europe back then.
Lisa's father was Antonmaria di Noldo Gherardini. His family had lived on properties near San Donato in Poggio. They had only recently moved into the city.
Antonmaria had two wives before Lisa's mother. Both died while giving birth. Lisa's mother was Lucrezia del Caccia. She was Antonmaria's third wife. Lisa's father owned or rented six farms in Chianti. These farms produced wheat, wine, and olive oil. They also raised animals there.
Lisa was born in Florence on June 15, 1479. She was born on Via Maggio. For many years, people thought she was born on Villa Vignamaggio. This was a family farm just outside Greve. She was named after her paternal grandfather's wife, also named Lisa. Lisa was the oldest of seven children. She had three sisters, one named Ginevra. She also had three brothers: Giovangualberto, Francesco, and Noldo.
The family lived in Florence. They first lived near Santa Trinita. Later, they rented a place near Santo Spirito. This was probably because their first house was damaged. Lisa's family then moved to Via dei Pepi. After that, they lived near Santa Croce. Here, they lived close to Ser Piero da Vinci, who was Leonardo's father. They also owned a small country home in St. Donato. This village was about 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of the city. Lisa's grandfather, Noldo, had given a farm in Chianti to the Santa Maria Nuova hospital. Lisa's father, Antonmaria, leased another farm from the hospital. The family spent summers there at a house called Ca' di Pesa. This was so Antonmaria could watch over the wheat harvest.
Marriage and Family Life
On March 5, 1495, 15-year-old Lisa married Francesco di Bartolomeo di Zanobi del Giocondo. He was a successful merchant who sold cloth and silk. Lisa became his third wife. Lisa's dowry was 170 florins. She also received the San Silvestro farm. This farm was near her family's country home. It was located between Castellina and San Donato in Poggio. This area was close to two farms later owned by Michelangelo.
The small dowry might mean the Gherardini family was not very rich at the time. This suggests that Lisa and Francesco truly loved each other. They were not poor, but they were not among the richest in Florence either. They lived a middle-class life. Lisa's marriage might have improved her social status. Francesco's family may have been richer than her own. Francesco likely benefited because Gherardini was an "old name" in Florence.
They lived in shared housing until March 5, 1503. Then, Francesco bought a house next door to his family's old home. This was on the Via della Stufa. It is believed that Leonardo began painting Lisa's portrait that same year.
Lisa and Francesco had five children. Their names were Piero, Camilla, Andrea, Giocondo, and Marietta. Four of them were born between 1496 and 1507. Lisa lost a baby daughter in 1499. Lisa also raised Bartolomeo. He was Francesco's son from his first wife, Camilla di Mariotto Rucellai. Camilla died shortly after Bartolomeo's birth.
Two of Lisa's daughters, Camilla and Marietta, became Catholic nuns. Camilla took the name Suor Beatrice. She entered the convent of San Domenico di Cafaggio. Lisa's sister, Suor Camilla, was also there. Beatrice died at age 18 and was buried in the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella. Lisa had a good relationship with Sant'Orsola, a respected convent in Florence. She was able to place Marietta there in 1521. Marietta took the name Suor Ludovica. She became a respected member of the convent.
Francesco became a government official in Florence. He was elected to important positions in 1499 and 1512. In 1512, the government of Florence was worried. The Medici family was returning from exile. Francesco was put in prison and fined 1,000 florins. He was released in September when the Medici family returned.
In June 1537, Francesco made his will. He returned Lisa's dowry to her. He also gave her personal clothing and jewelry. He made sure she would be cared for in the future. He wrote that he did this "Given the affection and love of the testator towards Mona Lisa, his beloved wife; in consideration of the fact that Lisa has always acted with a noble spirit and as a faithful wife; wishing that she shall have all she needs…".
Lisa's Death
One story says that Francesco died in the plague of 1538. Lisa became ill. Her daughter Ludovica took her to the convent of Sant'Orsola. Lisa died there on July 15, 1542, at age 63. However, some scholars believe Francesco was nearly 80 when he died. They think Lisa might have lived until at least 1551. If so, she would have been 71 or 72 years old.
The Famous Mona Lisa Painting
Like other wealthy Florentine families, Francesco's family loved and supported art. His son Bartolomeo asked an artist to paint a fresco. This was for the family's burial place. Another artist painted a Madonna for another family member. Francesco asked Leonardo to paint his wife's portrait. He also asked another artist to paint a picture of Saint Francis of Assisi. People believe Francesco asked for Lisa's portrait to celebrate two things. One was the birth of their son Andrea. The other was the purchase of their family home.
The Mona Lisa shows a woman of good character. Lisa is shown as a faithful wife. Her right hand rests over her left, which was a common gesture. Leonardo also made Lisa look fashionable and successful. She might even look richer than she actually was. Her dark clothes and black veil were popular Spanish fashion. They do not mean she was mourning her first daughter, as some people thought. The portrait is very large. Its size is similar to paintings ordered by much wealthier art supporters. This large size might show that Francesco and Lisa wanted to improve their social standing.
In the spring of 1503, Leonardo had no income. This might be why he was interested in painting a private portrait. But later that year, he probably had to stop working on the Mona Lisa. He got paid to start The Battle of Anghiari. This was a more important job. He was supposed to finish it by February 1505. In 1506, Leonardo still thought the portrait was not finished. He was not paid for the painting and did not give it to Francesco. Leonardo kept his paintings with him throughout his life. He might have finished the Mona Lisa many years later in France, possibly by 1516.
The painting's title dates back to 1550. Giorgio Vasari, who knew Francesco's family, wrote: "Leonardo undertook to paint, for Francesco del Giocondo, the portrait of Mona Lisa, his wife." The painting's Italian name, La Gioconda, is the feminine form of Lisa's married name. In French, it is called La Joconde. The name also means "happy" or "the happy one."
Many different paintings were thought to be Lisa's portrait. Her identity was linked to at least ten different people. By the end of the 20th century, the painting was a global icon. It had been used in over 300 other paintings and 2,000 advertisements. It appeared in about one new advertisement every week.
In 2005, an expert at the University Library of Heidelberg found a note. It was written by Agostino Vespucci in 1503. This note confirmed that Lisa was indeed the model for the painting. It stated that Leonardo was working on a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo.
The Mona Lisa has been owned by France since the 16th century. King Francis I bought it. After the French Revolution, it became the property of the French Republic. Today, about six million people visit the painting each year. It is displayed at the Louvre in Paris. It is part of France's national art collection.
See also
In Spanish: Lisa Gherardini para niños
