Art historians are due to dig up the remains of who they believe posed for Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Mona Lisa in order to extract the DNA to recreate the face of the noblewoman who died almost 500 years ago and provided the world with what may be history’s most famous smile.
Researches believe they have located the tomb of Lisa Gherardini Del Giocondo at the site of a Florence convent where she laid to rest in 1542. The St. Orsola convent was bulldozed around 30 years ago.
Silvano Vinceti, who is leading the team, said he will compare the DNA to samples taken from sites where he says her children are interred.
Lisa Gherardini Del Giocondo was the wife of wealthy silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo.
Vinceti is slated to open the crypt on 27 April.
Da Vinci’s masterpiece hangs behind bulletproof glass at the Louvre museum in Paris.
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FBI reports are false, says Madge
New York: Pop superstar Madonna has rubbished reports that charities chaired by her are under investigation by FBI for tax evasion. The Queen of Pop went on the offensive after widely published reports that “Success for Kids” and “Raising Malawi” are being probed for “several irregularities and suspicious activity”, reported New York Post. “In recent days a number of wild and totally false rumours about Madonna’s philanthropy, spread by bloggers and tabloids, have begun appearing on the Internet. As we have said previously, Raising Malawi is currently undergoing a series of positive changes in an effort to serve more children. Neither Madonna nor “Raising Malawi” is being investigated by the FBI or the IRS,” the 52-year-old’s representative
Liz Rosenberg said a statement. The reports came a week after it emerged that Madonna had to scrap plans to build a school in Malawi.
—PTI