The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous and celebrated paintings of the Renaissance. It was painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, and now belongs to the French Republic.
The Mona Lisa conveys a mood of calm and quiet happiness. The woman is seen smiling slightly. This conveys a sense of comfort and relaxation. Moreover, the painting has an air of mysticism and a dream-like quality. This is achieved by the background. Behind the Mona Lisa, we can see a background of icy mountains, winding paths and open landscape. The use of shadows allow the woman to look realistic, while contrasting with the imaginary landscape.
It is likely that the purpose of this work was to celebrate and dignify this woman. We can assume this for several reasons. Many of her characteristics are similar to those of portraits of the Virgin Mary, an ideal woman at the time. Moreover, the position of her hands represent her virtue and the fact that she was a good and admirable wife.