The widely accepted theory is that the woman in Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting is Lisa Gherardini, a woman born on June 15, 1479, in Florence, Italy. She was the wife of a wealthy silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo. That’s why the painting is sometimes called La Gioconda, especially in Italian. The theory that she is the subject of the portrait goes all the way back to 1550, when Leonardo’s biographer, Giorgio Vasari, first identified her as the model.
It’s believed that Francesco del Giocondo commissioned the portrait of his wife around 1503 to celebrate either the purchase of their new home or the birth of their second son. However, the painting was never delivered to the family. Leonardo kept it with him until his death in 1519. Some experts think he kept working on it over many years, adding layers of detail and experimentation.
In 2005, researchers studying notes written by a Florentine official named Agostino Vespucci in 1503 found references to Leonardo working on a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo, supporting the traditional belief. While there have been alternative theories—including suggestions that the painting is a self-portrait in disguise or represents an ideal woman—none have been proven.
So, while there’s still some mystery, the strongest evidence points to Lisa Gherardini as the real woman behind that famous smile. She may have lived a quiet life, but thanks to Leonardo, her face became one of the most iconic in the world.
