The president of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, revealed on Saturday plans to potentially provide the iconic Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci with a dedicated room within the museum.
This proposed move aims to enhance the experience for the multitude of visitors who specifically come to see this renowned portrait.
In an interview with France Inter, des Cars expressed the importance of offering visitors the best reception possible, especially for a masterpiece as significant as the Mona Lisa.
She emphasized the need for a better solution to accommodate the overwhelming interest in the painting.
Des Cars mentioned ongoing discussions with the culture ministry regarding potential approaches for this spatial reorganization. The Louvre, renowned as the world’s most-visited museum, hosted nearly nine million visitors in 2023.
Highlighting the enduring allure of the Mona Lisa, des Cars noted that approximately 80% of Louvre visitors—equivalent to 20,000 individuals daily—brave the crowds to catch a glimpse of the enigmatic smile immortalized in da Vinci’s work.
Currently displayed in the Louvre’s Salle des Etats, alongside other masterpieces, the Mona Lisa is encased in protective glass.
While the painting shares its space with works by 16th-century Venetian artists, des Cars’ proposal reflects a potential shift towards providing the Mona Lisa with a standalone exhibition area.
