Lisa Gherardini came from and ancient & noble clan. The Gherardini went back to ancient Rome. And they lived in Florence from around the 10th century. Now her family were knights and they were also feudal lords, but these were not sort of the knights, some the dashing heroic knights of Camelot. They were pretty much robber barons and they made much of their fortune by forcing any merchants who were bringing merchandise to Florence.To pay them quite a ransom to pass by their properties. And if the merchants refused they would simply cut the tendons on the donkeys legs and ten confiscate the goods for themselves. But the Gherardini were known for their pride and their fierce independence. They prided themselves on their Gherardini ness and this was something that even though they lost their fortunate they lost their power. They never lost their pride and I think that this is one of the things that Mona Lisa felt and that she inherited in her blood this pride in being a Gherardini.