Lisa Gherardini was the real name of the woman who is widely believed to be the model for Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, the Mona Lisa. Gherardini was born in Florence, Italy in 1479, and she was married to a wealthy merchant named Francesco del Giocondo. In 103, she is believed to have sat for a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, which became known as the Mona Lisa. Little else is known about Gherardini's life, and the true identity of the Mona Lisa has been the subject of much speculation and debate.