Paris - The Orsay Mona Lisa - 7me

Plate LXII - Mona Lisa of the Orsay…

Whether you call her Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda, you’ll know that da Vinci’s most famous work, and perhaps THE star attraction in all of Paris, lives alone in the Louvre Museum. The most frequent comment heard when getting through the galaxy of flashing camera lights aimed at this masterpiece is dismay or even disappointment at its relatively small size. At 53 by 77 centimetres there is no real justification for this, but perhaps the scale of the only other artwork equal to the Mona Lisa in reputation and renown, Michelangelo’s statue of David, sets unrealistic expectations.

The Mona Lisa doesn’t get out much these days. Acquired for France, from the artist in around 1515 by King Francis I the portrait was presumably moved from one residence to another as the royal court set up ‘camp’ in the various palaces and chateaux in which the King chose to spend his time. Certainly, during a recent visit to Chambord it was implied she had frequent guest status there. A certain Vincenzo Peruggia, who intended returning her to Italy, famously stole her in August 1911. She was recovered and returned to the Louvre in December of 1913, and apart from being placed in secret storage during the Second World War, plus a documented visit to Washington in the New World in 1963 she has not traveled since.

And yet I was to see her here on public exhibition, in the open air square that fronts the Orsay Museum. The crowds attracted were as dense as I ever saw at the Louvre. And, beneath her frame was a small box to place one’s offerings of appreciation.

Something was amiss. Did the Louvre know?
Read tomorrow's post to find the answer.