One of the most viewed and talked about paintings of all time is the iconic Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. There is no exact date on when it was completed but many experts believe it was done sometime between 1503 and 1506, which would make her about 521 years old. Who is the Mona Lisa? There are many stories and mysteries surrounding the painting, but it’s widely believed to be Lisa del Giocondo of Italy, a noblewoman from a well-known and wealthy Tuscany family. The original painting has been sitting in the Louvre in Paris since 1797 and is the property of the French Republic.
Thanks to artificial intelligence, researchers from Microsoft are now able to make the Mona Lisa speak in a very realistic way. The facial and head movements are so convincing that scientists think the technology could eventually be used to help those who don’t have companions in their life. They also think the AI technology could be used to help those with communication problems.
What I’d like to know is what would Mona Lisa say after staying silent for over 500 years? What would she tell today’s generation of people? I have a couple theories.
“Could you stop staring at me, it’s annoying!”
“I’ve been sitting here for 500 years, where’s the bathroom?”
“Is there something in my teeth?”
“How are the Roughriders doing?”
“Cucumbers are how much now!!??”
“I need to scratch an itch that’s been bugging me for 400 years.”
“I could really go for some gelato.”
“Teenage mutant ninja…what?”
Just imagine if someone actually lived for over 500 years and what they would see for changes over the years. So many historical moments from Shakespeare to multiple wars, trains, cars, electricity, computers, and smartphones.
The Mona Lisa painting is considered one of the most valuable works in history. In fact, it holds a world record for the most expensive insurance valuation anywhere. No wonder it’s closely guarded and preserved with the most sophisticated security and technology out there. Each year, nearly 10 million people go to the Louvre with 80% of them wanting to see the Mona Lisa specifically. After over 500 years she’s still one special lady!
