Things you didn’t know about these famous paintings

Every masterpiece holds a secret, from hidden sketches beneath the canvas to the scandalous true stories of their subjects. We peel back the layers of history to reveal the surprising details you likely missed in the world's most famous works of art. (Source: Photo by Wikipedia Commons)

American Gothic: The stern pair aren’t husband and wife, they’re a farmer and his daughter, modelled by the artist’s sister and dentist. (Source: Photo by Wikipedia Commons)

In TIn Andrew Wyeth’s Christina’s World, the subject suffers from a degenerative condition that prevents her from walking; she is depicted pulling herself across the grass, adding a profound, emotional layer to the work. (Source: Photo by Wikipedia Commons)

Girl with a Pearl Earring: This isn’t a true portrait but a tronie, a study of expression and costume, meaning the girl’s identity was never meant to be known. (Source: Photo by Wikipedia Commons)

Mona Lisa: Painted by Leonardo da Vinci, “Mona Lisa” isn’t actually her name, “Mona” means “Madam,” and she’s believed to be Lisa del Giocondo. (Source: Photo by Wikipedia Commons)

The Last Supper: Instead of traditional fresco, da Vinci used an experimental method, causing the painting to start deteriorating within just a few years. (Source: Photo by Wikipedia Commons)

The Starry Night: Vincent van Gogh painted it largely from memory while in an asylum, and the village below is partly imagined. (Source: Photo by Wikipedia Commons)