GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE MONA LISA

You could be the lucky person who gets to spend alone time with the Mona Lisa – if you’ve got extra cash lying around and you’re willing to bid on it.

The Louvre Museum in Paris has announced an auction whereby the winner will be allowed to attend the annual examination of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous painting.

Every year, the painting is taken out of its case and inspected to ensure it is still in a good condition.

While the Louvre is the most popular and largest museum in the world, it too has experienced financial losses due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The New York Times reports that the museum aims to use the proceeds from the auction to open up a new educational area within the museum to make it more accessible to all. The new plans include The Louvre Museum Studio, a place that will concentrate on artistic and cultural education.

Other famous French brands have teamed up with the museum to sponsor exclusive experiences that will form part of the winning bid’s prize.

Cartier, a world-famous jeweller based in Paris has donated one of its famous Panthere de Cartier bracelets.

The winning bidder will receive this infamous bracelet when they visit the museum privately, along with an exclusive look at the French crown jewels and a private visit to Cartier’s secret jewellery workshop in Paris.

Other experiences include a private tour of The Louvre with its president and director, as well as a flashlight night tour of the museum and a private concert.

The auction ends on 15 December and the winner will have two years to make use of their prize.

Watch the Great Big Story video below for more on the world’s most famous painting.

Image credit: The National