workshop of Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa of the Prado (1503-1516)

(Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain)

A painting by the workshop of the Italian master Leonardo da Vinci (1452 -1519). This painting is one of the earliest copies of the famous Mona Lisa. Until 2010 this painting was in a bad condition, the background was covered with black paint and was cataloged as an anonymous copy. The restoration of this piece showed that this copy was in a far better state than its original of which the varnish on the original has become cracked and yellowed with age. In other words: this painting shows how the original Mona Lisa must have originally looked like. Who made this copy in unknown but several students of Leonardo have been suggested. Painting from 1503-1516.

The original Mona Lisa: Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci