Florence, Italy, 1 August 2019: Leonardo da Vinci’s stunning portrait of the young Lisa Gherardini (Mona Lisa), commissioned in Florence by her husband Francesco del Giocondo (c.1503-1506), was unveiled at the Palazzo Bastogi on 8 June 2019. Five hundred years after the death of the Master, the original ‘Mona Lisa’ returned to the city where it was created.

The earlier ‘Mona Lisa’, painted approximately ten years prior to the iconic ‘Mona Lisa’ that hangs in the Louvre, was presented in the context of an interactive, tablet-led exhibition. The exhibition presented the fascinating discovery of the painting as well as the historical, scientific, mathematical and comparative evidence which overwhelmingly demonstrates its authorship by Leonardo da Vinci.

Florentines and tourists were delighted with the rare chance of viewing the painting. Visitors had the opportunity to share their impressions on a visitor survey: “Ecstatic”, “bellissimo” and “beautiful” or “no doubt the work of the Master” were all comments repeated time and time again.

A few months prior to the exhibition, in April 2019, Fielding University Press published “Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa: New Perspectives”, a collection of studies about the world-famous portrait of Lisa del Giocondo. Scholars from the U.S., Italy, France, Russia, Britain and Brazil contributed to the publication, edited by Professor Jean-Pierre Isbouts. The central conclusion of the publication confirms that the painting ‘Isleworth Mona Lisa’, also known as the earlier ‘Mona Lisa’, is Leonardo’s portrait of Lisa del Giocondo. Professor Isbouts, as well as several of the other academic contributors, made voyages from near and far to attend the opening of the exhibition in Florence.

The exhibition was opened by the President of the Regional Council of Tuscany, Eugenio Giani – who made an emotional speech welcoming the painting home and recalling the fact that the subject of the painting, Lisa Gherardini, was buried only a block away.  Indeed, in homage, on the anniversary of her death, he placed a bouquet of white roses in front of the painting and honoured her in front of the assembled press.

The Princesses Natalia and Irina Strozzi, direct descendants of Lisa Gherardini, were present at the Opening Gala of the exhibition in the Palazzo and helped President Gianni unveil the painting that was commissioned by their ancestor. They commented at the Opening Gala. “We are delighted to support this ground-breaking exhibition which returns the portrait of our famous ancestor to Florence to be appreciated by the public.”

EUROPEAN PREMIERE: Original ‘Mona Lisa’

PALAZZO BASTOGI

18 via Cavour

Florence, Italy

10 JUNE – 30 JULY 2019

Open Monday to Friday: 10:30 – 17:30

Thursday: late opening to 19:30

Closed: June 17th and July 11th

Private Evening Guided Tours available at :

On the Road: Leonardo da Vinci’s original ‘Mona Lisa’ Exhibition

The Mona Lisa Foundation endeavours to allow all members of the public to experience the genius of Leonardo da Vinci through a series of worldwide exhibitions. The World Premiere was held in Singapore in 2014-15, and the painting was also shown in Shanghai, China in 2016. New exhibitions are continually being planned throughout the world.

“In 2019, the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death, we were delighted to bring the earlier ‘Mona Lisa’ to its original home in Florence for the first time in centuries. We are looking forward to sharing the painting with audiences in different countries around the world in the very near future”, says Dr. Markus A. Frey, President of The Mona Lisa Foundation.