Lisa del Giocondo Biography: Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Spouse, Children, Obituary

Lisa del Giocondo, born Lisa Gherardini, is primarily known today as the woman believed to be the subject of Leonardo da Vinci‘s renowned painting, the Mona Lisa.

Her association with this iconic artwork has immortalized her image and sparked centuries of intrigue and analysis.

While she lived a relatively private life as a Florentine noblewoman, her portrait has become one of the most studied and recognized images in art history.

Profile

• Full name: Lisa Gherardini
• Nickname: Mona Lisa
• Date of birth: June 15, 1479
• Age as of 2025: Deceased
• Gender: Female
• Place of birth: Florence, Republic of Florence
• State of origin: Tuscany
• Nationality: Italian
• Profession: Noblewoman
• Height: N/A
• Parents: Antonmaria di Noldo Gherardini and Lucrezia del Caccia
• Siblings: Lisa was the eldest of seven children, with three sisters—Ginevra, Camilla, and Alessandra—and three brothers—Giovangualberto, Francesco, and Noldo.
• Spouse: Francesco di Bartolomeo di Zanobi del Giocondo
• Children: Lisa and Francesco had six children: Piero, Piera, Camilla, Marietta, Andrea, and Giocondo.
• Relationship status: Widowed
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Ethnicity: Italian
• Net worth: Lisa’s dowry included a small farm near San Silvestro and 170 florins, indicating a modest but respectable economic status.  

Early Life and Education

Lisa Gherardini was born on June 15, 1479, in Florence, within the Republic of Florence. Her father, Antonmaria di Noldo Gherardini, was a member of a once-aristocratic family that had experienced financial decline.

Her mother, Lucrezia del Caccia, was Antonmaria‘s third wife. Lisa was the eldest of seven children, with three sisters—Ginevra, Camilla, and Alessandra—and three brothers—Giovangualberto, Francesco, and Noldo.

She grew up in Florence during the Renaissance’s height, a period marked by significant cultural and artistic achievements. Details about her education are scarce, but as a woman of her social standing, she likely received basic instruction in reading, writing, and religious studies, preparing her for her role in managing a household.

Personal Life

At the age of 15, Lisa married Francesco del Giocondo, a successful Florentine merchant of cloth and silk, on March 5, 1495. The marriage was likely arranged to strengthen social and economic ties between their families. Francesco was significantly older than Lisa, and together they had six children: Piero, Piera, Camilla, Marietta, Andrea, and Giocondo.  

Lisa also raised Bartolomeo, Francesco’s son from his previous marriage. The family lived a comfortable life in Florence, and Lisa’s role would have included managing the household and overseeing the children’s upbringing. Francesco passed away in 1538, and Lisa spent her remaining years at the convent of Saint Ursula in Florence, where she died on July 15, 1542.

Career

Lisa del Giocondo did not have a career in the modern sense. Her primary role was that of a wife and mother within a well-to-do Florentine family. Her significance in history stems from her association with Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, the Mona Lisa.

It is believed that Francesco commissioned the portrait to celebrate either the purchase of their new home or the birth of their second son, Andrea. The painting, characterized by Lisa’s subtle smile and serene expression, has captivated audiences for centuries and remains a subject of extensive study and admiration.

Net Worth

Lisa’s dowry included a small farm near San Silvestro and 170 florins, indicating a modest but respectable economic status.  

Death

Lisa del Giocondo died on July 15, 1542, at the age of 63. She spent her final years at the convent of Saint Ursula in Florence, where she was cared for by her daughter, Marietta, who had become a nun. Lisa was buried at the convent, and her remains are believed to have been discovered during archaeological excavations in the early 21st century.  

Controversy

The primary controversy surrounding Lisa del Giocondo pertains to her identity as the subject of the Mona Lisa. For centuries, art historians and scholars debated the true identity of the woman in Leonardo da Vinci’s painting.

While Giorgio Vasari, a 16th-century artist and biographer, identified her as Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, alternative theories have suggested other women, including noblewomen and courtesans, as potential subjects.

In 2005, a discovery of a note by Agostino Vespucci, a Florentine city official and acquaintance of Leonardo, provided strong evidence supporting Lisa’s identity as the sitter. Another aspect of controversy involves the circumstances under which the portrait was commissioned and whether Lisa ever saw the finished painting.

Some scholars argue that Leonardo never delivered the portrait to the Giocondo family, as he took it with him when he moved to France and kept it until his death. This has led to speculation about the nature of the commission and Leonardo’s intentions for the painting.  

Social Media

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Books

I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis

Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered by Dianne Hales

Gioconda by Lucille Turner