The night between April 3rd and 4th, 2025, marks exactly twenty years since Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, first took residence inside a specially crafted Goppion display case at the Louvre.
In 2005, following four years displayed in the Salles Rouges, the painting returned to its historic home in the newly renovated Salle des États, designed by the architect Lorenzo Piqueras, where it was protected by an innovative showcase designed and manufactured by Goppion.This display solution featured exceptionally transparent yet virtually impermeable antiglare glass, constructed from multiple alternating layers of glass and PVB sheets. For optimal security, the display case incorporated thick steel walls and high-resistance steel armor plating on its rear.
Projects
The Mona Lisa – Musée du Louvre
At the heart of this design is a sophisticated compression sealing system ensuring airtightness and providing unparalleled protection. Developed in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Milan, the showcase's climate control system uniquely combines active and passive components to maintain stable humidity and air purity, featuring two independent, redundant units—if one fails, the other automatically takes over, ensuring continuous protection.
In 2019, Goppion reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the world's most famous artwork by winning the international competition to provide a temporary display case during renovations in the Salle des États. During this period, Goppion also undertook the renovation of our original 2005 case, upgrading it with new protective glass and improved lighting and conservation technology.
Today, we proudly celebrate two decades of continuously protecting the Mona Lisa—a testament to Goppion’s dedication to preserving humanity's most precious cultural treasures.
Share
