FLORENCE, Italy, March 16: Leonardo da Vinci, the painter of the "Mona Lisa" and a symbol of the Renaissance, was only half-Italian, his mother a slave from the Caucasus, new research revealed on Tuesday.

A faithful copy of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa dating from more than 400 years ago will go under the hammer at a Paris auction on Tuesday, months after another reproduction of one of the world's most recognizable portraits sold for a record price.

PARIS, May 2: The Loire Valley town of Amboise will kick off festivities marking the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death in style on Thursday, with the French and Italian presidents topping the bill.

Mona Lisa, by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, undoubtedly is an evergreen masterpiece. Not only art lovers but also acclaimed artists look up to this work of art. Moreover, some artists have even portrayed the key character -- Mona Lisa -- in their artworks, including the late Manuj Babu Mishra.