The painting is believed to be the earliest known copy of the ` ` Mona Lisa '' Evidence suggests it was painted at the same time and in the same studio as the original . There are few likely candidates -- people who were working in Da Vinci 's workshop at the time -- but art experts are not yet sure which one might be the artist . The background was painted over with black during the 18th century . The restored version has more details linking it more closely to the original .
The painting is believed to be the earliest known copy of the ` ` Mona Lisa '' Evidence suggests it was painted at the same time and in the same studio as the original . The background was painted over with black during the 18th century . The restored version has more details linking it more closely to the original .