It's all about perspective. For example, the 

imaginery landscape behind me, in Leonardo's 

mind, served as a counterpoint to the enigma 

of my reserved posture but, to me, it looks

incongruous.

And they call me La Gioconda, meaning jocund, 

but I assure you I didn't see the funny side, sitting 

for an eternity on that rickety pozetto armchair.

And although he envisaged my portrait to represent

ideal womanhood, like the Virgin Mary, to me, 

he painted a frumpy, plain Jane, housewife.

Yes, there is a hint of a smile in the upturned 

corners of my mouth and eyes, but that was 

before I knew the eyes of the world would be 

constantly upon me. I never wanted to be famous.

 

So, now you know me a little better, I imagine

you might be thinking I should be called Moaner. 

And you'd be right, I'm laughing on the other side 

of my face. You see, it is all about perspective.