'Mona Lisa' model to be revealed by crypt? November 18, 2013 -- Updated 1721 GMT (0121 HKT) Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" portrait hangs in the Louvre museum in Paris, France. Remains of relatives of the woman believed to be the "Mona Lisa" model have been found Researchers plan to check their DNA against the DNA of a skeleton found at her burial site If there is a match, they will reconstruct the skeleton's face and compare it to the portrait CNN takes you "Inside the Louvre," building an intimate portrait of a museum like no other. From the conservator who restored the Venus de Milo, to the handler who looks after the Mona Lisa's famous smile, host Nick Glass speaks to the people at the heart of Paris' 800-year-old institution. (CNN) -- The exhumation of three bodies from a Florentine crypt may have brought Italian researchers a step closer to confirming the identity of the woman believed to be the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's famous "Mona Lisa" painting, also known as "La Gioconda." "La Gioconda" refers to Lisa Gherardini, the second wife of a Florentine silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. The remains of del Giocondo, his son by Gherardini -- Piero -- and Gherardini's stepson Bartolomeo have been uncovered in their family crypt, the authority of Florence has announced. A team led by Silvano Vinceti accessed the remains beneath the Chapel of the Holy Martyrs, in Florence on August 6, it said in a statement. Last year, Vinceti's team exhumed the remains of eight women from the ruins of a Franciscan convent in Florence where old city records said Gherardini had been buried. A laboratory at the University of Bologna had established that three of the skeletons at the St. Ursula convent were consistent with the age at which Gherardini had died, the statement said. Further carbon testing to establish which of those skeletons dated from the 16th century -- when Gherardini died -- was being carried out at the University of Salento, it quoted Vinceti as saying. If DNA taken from the del Giocondo family remains matched one of the skeletons found in the convent ruins, the skeleton could be confirmed as Gherardini's, he said. Scientists could then reconstruct Gherardini's face and compare it to da Vinci's mysterious portrait. Talking to CNN's Ben Wedeman when the convent skeletons were found last year, Vinceti said the reconstruction would have a margin of error of just 2 to 8% -- once researchers factored in that Gherardini had probably been in her early 20s when she posed for da Vinci. Read more: Researchers hope to uncover who's behind 'Mona Lisa' smile Vinceti told Wedeman he was certain that da Vinci had been commissioned to paint a portrait of Gherardini but could not be sure that the "Mona Lisa" was of her, or just contained some of her features. For starters, the famous smile was not Gherardini's, he said. Analysis of the "Mona Lisa" had shown that "when Leonardo began painting the model in front of him, he did not draw that metaphysical, ironic, poignant, elusive smile, but rather he painted a person who was dark and depressed." A reconstruction would finally answer the question art historians had been unable to resolve, Vinceti said: "Who was the model for Leonardo?" Read more: Da Vinci's lost masterpiece may be found Arts and Culture July 30, 2013 -- Updated 1713 GMT (0113 HKT) First came the discovery of the long-lost remains of Richard III. Now archaeologists exploring the same car park have found a coffin within a coffin. August 20, 2013 -- Updated 1258 GMT (2058 HKT) If you're of the opinion that the only thing better than viewing great art is owning it, put these destinations on your travel itinerary. May 23, 2013 -- Updated 0221 GMT (1021 HKT) A quarter century after his death, American pop artist Andy Warhol has popped up in China again after his first and only trip to the country in 1982. March 22, 2013 -- Updated 1107 GMT (1907 HKT) David Bowie has released his first songs in a decade, just as a new exhibition of his life and career opened at London's V& Museum. April 12, 2013 -- Updated 1508 GMT (2308 HKT) Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum is reopening after a massive 10-year rebuild. Get up close to its most treasured possession with our interactive. April 11, 2013 -- Updated 1056 GMT (1856 HKT) Thieves have forced Paris' Louvre museum to close, but an art heist was not to blame. Instead staff walked out in protest at pickpockets. May 2, 2013 -- Updated 1036 GMT (1836 HKT) A three minute jazz record was enough to cast a spell on a wealthy European heiress who became determined to meet the artist behind the tune. April 12, 2013 -- Updated 1102 GMT (1902 HKT) Artist Zao Wou-ki, widely regarded as one of the foremost Chinese painters of the 20th century, has died at the age of 93. April 11, 2013 -- Updated 0942 GMT (1742 HKT) Phallic good luck charms, an amber gladiator amulet and wooden buildings are among a trove of Roman artifacts found in London's financial district. April 10, 2013 -- Updated 1213 GMT (2013 HKT) Leading philanthropist and cosmetics tycoon Leonard Lauder offers to donate 78 Cubist works to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. March 20, 2013 -- Updated 0047 GMT (0847 HKT) With her glossy hair, exotic outfit and ruby-red pouting lips, she's every inch the classic pin-up... except, that is, for that greenish-blue skin. March 18, 2013 -- Updated 1840 GMT (0240 HKT) A mystery portrait donated to a British heritage charity has been identified as a work by Rembrandt van Rijn -- worth more than $30 million.