16th century bone fragments could be Mona Lisa, say researchers

Italian researchers believe that bone fragments unearthed in a convent in Italy could be the real Mona Lisa. The fragments, dating back to the 16th century, were said to have a very high likelihood to be from Lisa Gherardini, the real-life model of the portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Carbon dating reportedly showed that one of the fragments was compatible with the period when Gherardini died. The researchers added that historical documents showed Gherardini was buried in a Florence convent graveyard where the remains were discovered.

The team plans to conduct carbon dating and DNA testing to analyse the link between Gherardini and her children’s remains, which were found at another site at the Giocondo family crypt in the city’s Santissima Annunziata basilica.

“There are converging elements, above and beyond the results of the carbon–14 tests, that say we may well have found Lisa’s grave,” said Silvano Vinceti, head of Italy’s National Committee for the Promotion of Historic and Cultural Heritage. However, the team still could not determine if the remains were certainly from Mona Lisa, but Vinceti added that “the likelihood is very high.”

The skeletal remains were discovered in 2012 at the Sant’Orsola convent in Florence, Italy. Historians said Gherardini, who is thought to have posed for Da Vinci’s painting, spent her final days in the convent before her death in 1542.

To date, the investigation has stopped as the remains of Gherardini’s children were too degraded due to floods on their graves. Furthermore, no other remains of her relatives were found for DNA comparison testing. “Our biggest problem has been the fact that the fragments were very fragmented, very deteriorated,” said Giorgio Gruppioni, head of the forensic anthropology laboratory at Bologna University.

In addition, Gherardini’s skull has not been found at the discovery site, which the researchers say would help show the likeness of the real owner of the remains and Mona Lisa through facial reconstruction. In the previous years, Vinceti noted that finding Gherardini’s skull would solve the mystery of Mona Lisa’s true identity.

However, Vinceti still believes that the remains are from Mona Lisa. “I have done my best because I believe in this and the results for me are most satisfying… If you were to ask me what I personally, subjectively, think and feel, I’d say I believe that we have found her,” he said.

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