After centuries of reigning over the Salle des États, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is finally getting a space as iconic as her enigmatic smile. The Louvre Museum (Instagram) has announced an ambitious decade-long renovation project, at the heart of which is a new, dedicated gallery for the world’s most famous painting. Gone are the days of jostling selfie sticks and chaotic queues—this is La Joconde’s next act, and it promises to be nothing short of breathtaking.
The Louvre’s grand transformation, dubbed the Louvre New Renaissance, is set to reshape the museum’s infrastructure with a vision as bold as da Vinci’s brushstrokes. The Mona Lisa, currently displayed in the bustling Salle des États, will be moved to a purpose-built subterranean gallery beneath the Cour Carrée. This new setting is designed to offer an immersive, almost reverential experience, granting visitors an intimate moment with art’s most captivating gaze.
The Mona Lisa draws millions annually, often leading to a less-than-ideal viewing experience—think a sea of heads, impatient shuffling, and an occasional tourist attempting to break through the crowd for a fleeting, unobstructed glance. The relocation aims to address these concerns, offering a streamlined, serene encounter that does justice to her legendary mystique. The reimagined space will incorporate cutting-edge display technology, ensuring optimal lighting, climate control, and security—because let’s not forget, La Joconde has been the target of a few too many close calls over the years.
The Louvre New Renaissance will also introduce a new entrance near the Seine, expanded underground exhibition halls, and upgraded amenities to improve visitor circulation. It’s a move that acknowledges the Louvre’s position as the world’s most visited museum while future-proofing its legacy. Funding for the project will come from a mix of internal resources, donations from patrons, and, frustratingly, a newly introduced increase in ticket prices for non-EU visitors.
For an artwork that has survived heists, vandalism, and centuries of speculation, this is a new chapter in a long and storied history. The Mona Lisa is no stranger to reinvention—she has been smuggled, stolen, and meme’d into the 21st century. Now, she is finally getting a home worthy of her stature. Because if there’s one thing we know about La Joconde, it’s that she always finds a way to remain the centre of attention.
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