Who owns the Mona Lisa today?

The Mona Lisa is officially owned by the French Republic and managed by the Louvre Museum as part of the national collection.

Why is the Mona Lisa in France?

Leonardo da Vinci brought the painting to France when he entered the service of Francis I, and it subsequently became part of the French royal collection.

Can the Mona Lisa be sold or moved?

No, under French law, the Mona Lisa is considered inalienable and is protected by heritage laws, making it essentially immovable and unsellable.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Mona Lisa: A French Treasure's Tumultuous Journey

Mona Lisa: A French Treasure's Tumultuous Journey

4 Feb

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Summary

The Mona Lisa resides in Paris's Louvre Museum behind protective glass.
Leonardo da Vinci brought the painting to France, leading to its acquisition.
The French state officially owns the Mona Lisa as part of its national collection.

Mona Lisa: A French Treasure's Tumultuous Journey

The iconic Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci between approximately 1503 and 1519, is now a centerpiece of the Louvre Museum in Paris. Originally believed to depict Lisa Gherardini, Leonardo kept the portrait with him when he moved to France, entering the service of Francis I.

This pivotal decision led to the Mona Lisa becoming part of France's royal collection. After the French Revolution, state ownership transferred the artwork to the Louvre, where it remains today. It is legally owned by the French Republic and managed as part of the national collection.

The painting is protected by strict heritage laws, making it inalienable and immovable. Conservation needs, historical continuity in France for over five centuries, and its immense symbolic value, amplified by a past theft in 1911, ensure its permanent residence in Paris.