The provenance of the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, has been surrounded by controversies over the years. One main controversy is the identity of the woman depicted in the painting, said to be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo. Another controversy is the theory that Leonardo himself may have been the model for the painting, due to similarities between his self-portraits and the Mona Lisa. Additionally, there have been debates about the true origins and ownership history of the painting, including speculation about possible thefts and forgeries throughout history.
