This story appears in the May 2019 issue of National Geographic magazine.
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Why Leonardo da Vinci’s brilliance endures, 500 years after his death
His creativity and foresight in science, engineering, and the arts continue to surprise and amaze today.
Leonardo’s “Mona Lisa” is believed to depict Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a Florentine silk merchant. Every year, millions of visitors jostle for a view at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The painting, protected by a thick layer of glass that must be cleaned regularly, has never been restored.
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