The Mona Lisa experience

When I encountered this picture on the web last weekend, I was stunned - I have seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, and this is not at all like I remembered. Turns out that in April 2005 the painting was moved to a new location within the museum, where it is displayed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled enclosure behind bulletproof glass. About 6 million people view the painting at the Louvre each year - and most of them from a distance by the looks of it. Baffling that the tourists flock together to catch a glimpse of this one, rather than spend their time leisurely looking in detail at all the other treasures. First seen here.