The '''"Mona Lisa"''' is generally considered to be one of the greatest paintings of all time. It was painted using [[oil paint]] by the [[Renaissance]] artist [[Leonardo da Vinci]]. The painting is so masterful that the brush strokes are impossible to see, and yet the detail in the background is perfect. The painting became popular after having been stolen from the Louvre on august 21st, 1911.<ref>25 Crimes of the Century: Stealing the Mona Lisa, 1911, Time magazine http://www.time.com/time/2007/crimes/2.html</ref> Additionally the expression of the figure sitting for the portrait is often described as enigmatic, leading to a great deal of speculation. | The '''"Mona Lisa"''' is generally considered to be one of the greatest paintings of all time. It was painted using [[oil paint]] by the [[Renaissance]] artist [[Leonardo da Vinci]]. The painting is so masterful that the brush strokes are impossible to see, and yet the detail in the background is perfect. The painting became popular after having been stolen from the Louvre on august 21st, 1911.<ref>25 Crimes of the Century: Stealing the Mona Lisa, 1911, Time magazine http://www.time.com/time/2007/crimes/2.html</ref> Additionally the expression of the figure sitting for the portrait is often described as enigmatic, leading to a great deal of speculation. |