Francesco Giocondo employed thousands of guild members in Florence. He also made his famous wife famous. Which is why the title of Arlene's historical fiction novel is Mr. Mona Lisa. And why her prequel is Francesco Before. Growing up in the Renaissance, his odyssey was innovation, coronation, silk, wool, and cellulose. Then, this overburdened, overachieving kid met a Medici who would transform Francesco before to Francesco after.