<P> That Leonardo painted such a work, and its date, were confirmed in 2005 when a scholar at Heidelberg University discovered a marginal note in a 1477 printing of a volume written by the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero . Dated October 1503, the note was written by Leonardo's contemporary Agostino Vespucci . This note likens Leonardo to renowned Greek painter Apelles, who is mentioned in the text, and states that Leonardo was at that time working on a painting of Lisa del Giocondo . </P> <P> In response to the announcement of the discovery of this document, Vincent Delieuvin, the Louvre representative, stated "Leonardo da Vinci was painting, in 1503, the portrait of a Florentine lady by the name of Lisa del Giocondo . About this we are now certain . Unfortunately, we cannot be absolutely certain that this portrait of Lisa del Giocondo is the painting of the Louvre ." </P> <P> The model, Lisa del Giocondo, was a member of the Gherardini family of Florence and Tuscany, and the wife of wealthy Florentine silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo . The painting is thought to have been commissioned for their new home, and to celebrate the birth of their second son, Andrea . The Italian name for the painting, La Gioconda, means "jocund" ("happy" or "jovial") or, literally, "the jocund one", a pun on the feminine form of Lisa's married name, "Giocondo". In French, the title La Joconde has the same meaning . </P> <P> Before that discovery, scholars had developed several alternative views as to the subject of the painting . Some argued that Lisa del Giocondo was the subject of a different portrait, identifying at least four other paintings as the Mona Lisa referred to by Vasari . Several other women have been proposed as the subject of the painting . Isabella of Aragon, Cecilia Gallerani, Costanza d'Avalos, Duchess of Francavilla, Isabella d'Este, Pacifica Brandano or Brandino, Isabela Gualanda, Caterina Sforza--even Salaì and Leonardo himself--are all among the list of posited models portrayed in the painting . The consensus of art historians in the 21st century maintains the long - held traditional opinion, that the painting depicts Lisa del Giocondo . </P>

Who owned the mona lisa before the louvre