Louvre may move Mona Lisa to dedicated underground room
The Louvre Museum in Paris is considering relocating Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa to a dedicated underground gallery as part of the Grand Louvre renovation project. Currently, visitors get only 50 seconds to view the painting behind security glass, leading to 18,000 reviews calling it "the world's most disappointing masterpiece." Museum director Laurence des Cars and Vincent Delieuvin, chief curator of 16th-century Italian painting, confirmed the plan to Le Figaro. The new space would allow direct access bypassing the iconic glass pyramid, with a second room for temporary exhibitions. The move aims to end public disappointment and improve the viewing experience.
Key facts
- Mona Lisa is among the most famous artworks at the Louvre in Paris
- Millions of visitors queue annually to see the painting
- Current viewing time is limited to 50 seconds per person
- 18,000 reviews describe the Mona Lisa as 'the most disappointing masterpiece in the world'
- Louvre management met in April to discuss moving the painting
- A dedicated room would be built in the museum's basement
- The project is part of the future Grand Louvre plan
- Visitors would bypass the glass pyramid entrance to access the new underground rooms
Entities
Artists
- Leonardo da Vinci
Institutions
- Louvre Museum
- Le Figaro
- Artnews.com
- Artribune
- Louvre
Locations
- Paris
- France