Page "Francis I of France" Paragraph 9

Francis patronized many great artists of his time, including Andrea del Sarto and Leonardo da Vinci ; the latter was persuaded to make France his home during his last years.

While Leonardo painted very little during his years in France, he brought with him many of his greatest works, including the Mona Lisa ( known in France as La Joconde ), and these remained in France after his death.

There is another version of the Mona Lisa, discovered by Hugh Blaker http :// en. wikipedia. org / wiki / Hugh_Blaker, which never made it to France.

It is known as the Isleworth Mona Lisa http :// en. wikipedia. org / wiki / Isleworth_Mona_Lisa, and has for years been the subject of much debate because it has many qualities that fit the history of the Mona Lisa, which the Louvre version does not possess, including the columns depicted in Raphael's 1504 sketch of the Mona Lisa, done in Leonardo's studio while visiting there, and showing a younger woman ( in her 20s ) which better suits the age Lisa Gherardini http :// en. wikipedia. org / wiki / Lisa_Gherardini would have been in 1504.

Other major artists to receive Francis ' patronage include the goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini and the painters Rosso, Romano and Primaticcio, all of whom were employed in decorating Francis ' various palaces and were exceedingly loyal.

Francis also commissioned a number of agents in Italy to procure notable works of art and ship them to France.