After Brief Italian Hopes, Macron Confirms the Mona Lisa Will Stay in France
- Viola Duroni
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
Following concerns from Louvre director, Laurence des Cars, about inadequate conditions for displaying the Mona Lisa, came a brief moment of hope in Italy for bringing the masterpiece back. However, French President Emmanuel Macron has made his decision clear; the painting will stay in France. A dedicated hall will be built at the Louvre, exclusively for Leonardo da Vinci's iconic work.
Speaking in front of the painting last Tuesday, Macron confirmed that for the first time in years the Mona Lisa will be moved from the Salle des États to a new dedicated place by 2031.
"This particular space, accessible independently from the rest of the museum, will provide the Mona Lisa with the exhibition conditions it deserves," he said, reaffirming that the painting will remain in France.
Italy’s Hope
Italy's proposal to become the new home for the Mona Lisa sparked a wave of support from Italians eager to reclaim Leonardo da Vinci’s famous artwork. However, not everyone knows that the artist himself left the portrait in France, where he lived when he created it.
"The reason the Mona Lisa is in France is not because it was taken, as many believe, but simply because Da Vinci was in France at the time," explains Raffaella Pulejo, professor of art history at the Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, speaking to The Glass Room. "In my opinion, it represents a sort of French statement—this is why it will stay in the Louvre."
Dr. Cyril Thiaudière, a French art and antique jewelry expert, adds for The Glass Room that the Mona Lisa is unlikely to ever travel again: "It is impossible because the Mona Lisa has not traveled for a very long time. It’s an immovable, almost sacred property." He also notes that such debates are often "questions that do not need an answer, but are simply raised to spark conversation."
Regarding the Louvre’s decision to relocate the painting within the museum, Pulejo acknowledges that the Mona Lisa current placement distorts the museum experience. Trapped behind a glass cage, it almost appears to have superiority over other works of art, drawing tourists who spend only 15 minutes there before moving on, often ignoring the rest of the collection. "In that room, visitors cannot fully appreciate other significant works, such as The Virgin of the Rocks or paintings by Raphael," she explains.
On the other hand, she recognizes that isolating the Mona Lisa might detach the painting from its artistic context, further amplifying the myth that surrounds it. "It’s a difficult issue," Pulejo concludes.
Why Must the Mona Lisa be Moved?
Despite the ongoing debate, Louvre director Laurence des Cars' concerns are clear. In a public letter to the French government, she described the Louvre as "structurally unable to cope" with the more than nine million visitors it receives annually. She also pointed out that "the public does not have the means to fully grasp the artist’s work," raising fundamental questions about the museum’s mission as a public service institution.
Dr. Thiaudière agrees. "The constant influx of people wanting to see the Mona Lisa disrupts the proper functioning of a museum, even one as vast as the Louvre." He also highlights structural issues, such as water infiltration, and how a new hall could better manage the overwhelming tourist flow for a painting that is relatively small in size.
Other artworks in the Salle des États will likely benefit from the Mona Lisa’s relocation. "The Mona Lisa is a bit of a black hole. Literally, she absorbs the light around her. If you ask visitors, none of them would remember the other artworks on the walls. We’ve forgotten that this is a work of art."
What remains indisputable, however, is that the Mona Lisa has become an unshakable symbol of France. Despite the Italian origins of the painter, it will always be an integral part of France’s national identity. "She is ours," Thiaudière concludes.
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