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Leonardo returns to Florence. Lisa gets married. Dianne Hales comes to understand the real Mona Lisa. Concluded by Nancy Crane.

A genius immortalised her. A French king paid a fortune for her. An emperor coveted her. Every year more than 9 million visitors trek to view her portrait in the Louvre. Yet while everyone recognizes her smile, hardly anyone knows her story.

Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered - a blend of biography, history, and memoir - truly is a book of discovery about the world's most recognised face, most revered artist, and most praised and parodied painting.

Who was she, this ordinary woman who rose to such extraordinary fame? Why did the most
renowned painter of her time choose her as his model? What became of her? And why does her smile enchant us still?

The author, Dianne Hales, is a prize-winning, widely published journalist and author. The President of Italy awarded her an honorary knighthood in recognition of her internationally bestselling book, La Bella Lingua.

Abridged by Eileen Horne
Producer: Clive Brill
A Brill production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

15 minutes

Last on

Sat 4 May 2019 02:45

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Credits

Role Contributor
Actor Nancy Crane
Producer Clive Brill
Abridger Eileen Horne
Author Dianne Hales

Broadcasts

  • Fri 15 Aug 2014 09:45
  • Sat 16 Aug 2014 00:30
  • Fri 3 May 2019 14:45
  • Sat 4 May 2019 02:45

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