Leave Mona Lisa’s remains in peace, pleads royal relative
April 29th, 2011 - 3:28 pm ICT by ANILondon, April 29 (ANI): A royal descendant of the Italian noblewoman said to be the model for the Mona Lisa has insisted her remains should be left in peace as art historians began searching for her tomb.
Natalia Strozzi, whose parents are close friends of Prince Charles and Tony Blair, spoke out as the team of cold case investigators began examining a 500-year-old church for the grave.
“I can’t believe this is happening - it’s just not possible. Why can’t they leave my ancestor poor Lisa alone?” the Daily Mail quoted Strozzi as criticising the hunt at St Orsola church in Florence.
“What do these people think they can achieve or add to our knowledge of Da Vinci by digging up her bones which I think is an act of sacrilege and completely inopportune. We know that when she died she was actually exhumed and reburied later at St Orsola so why dig her remains up again?” she asked.
“Why do these people insist on wanting to find her bones?” she added.
Led by Prof Silvano Vinceti, the archaeologists hope the dig will lead to the discovery of the resting place of Lisa del Giocondo, who is said to be the woman behind Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile.
Historians have long believed Lisa is the woman behind what is one of the most recognisable images in the world, which was painted 500 years ago by Renaissance master Leonardo Da Vinci. (ANI)
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Tags: ancestor, archaeologists, art historians, close friends, cold case, da vinci, daily mail, enigmatic smile, italian noblewoman, lisa del giocondo, mona lisa, orsola, prince charles, renaissance master, resting place, royal descendant, sacrilege, silvano, strozzi, tony blair