6 Shocking Myths of Famous Historical Paintings You Probably Believe

Think you know art history? Think again. What if some of the world's most recognizable masterpieces are actually surrounded by half-truths and myths? From Mona Lisa's staring eyes to George Washington's heroic stance, history has a way of repainting the facts to make a better story.

Debunking 6 Myths of Famous Historical Paintings

Artistic legends often overshadow reality. For instance, Salvador Dalí's melting clocks weren't inspired by Einstein's physics, but by Camembert cheese melting in the sun. Similarly, Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch' isn't a nighttime scene at all; years of dirt and varnish just made it look that way until it was cleaned. Here are the true stories behind these icons.

• American Gothic: They're a family duo—a father and daughter—not a married couple.
• The Persistence of Memory: Inspired by cheese, as the artist said himself, not complex relativity.
• Mona Lisa: Her gaze is angled 15.4 degrees to the right, meaning she isn't actually looking at you.
• The Night Watch: It depicts a daytime parade. The name was added in the late 18th century after the painting darkened.
• The Scream: The figure is covering its ears to block out the 'scream of nature' from the environment.
• Washington Crossing the Delaware: A dramatic dramatization; the real crossing was a secret, pitch-black night mission.