Theft of the Mona Lisa (Paris 1911)

More than 100 years ago, in August 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the walls of the Louvre in Paris. The famous Leonardo da Vinci painting wasn’t recovered until two years later, in December 1913.

It is one of the most popular paintings in the history of art. Artists from all over the world consider it as a masterpiece in which Leonardo da Vinci has delicately shown his skill at “sfumato” – a unique technique to add subtle gradations and give an unbelievable shadow to an object.

While creating a huge media sensation, the Mona Lisa was stolen in August 1911 by an Italian thief. The event caused a huge media sensation and gained significant attention from the global arts community. It was considered as the greatest theft in the history of art.

Who stole Mona Lisa?

An Italian thief “Vincenzo Peruggia” stole the Mona Lisa. He was born in Dumenza, Varese, Italy. According to the police reports and findings, Peruggia was a former worker who managed to hide in the Louvre Museum on 21 August. He grabbed the white smocks that museum employees had used, making himself indistinguishable. Then, he stole the painting and left the museum.

Recovery of the Painting?

Police and investigative specialists immediately took action and worked hard to discover the thief. Within a few months, they were able to identify him and recovered the painting after two years in 1913.

From her enigmatic smile to the mysteries that surround the artist and subject, it is her disappearance that has made the painting as famous as it is today.

Mona Lisa and Today’s World

From movies, cartoons, novels to comics, Mona Lisa stands among one of the few most distinguished entities that personify unique mysteries. Several poets and writers have mentioned her and it is now considered as a jewel for not just the Louvre Museum, but the entire art community.

Back in 2003, when the Louvre Museum was renovated, a separate room was prepared for the Mona Lisa. The painting is now covered with a glass ceiling that allows the natural light to pass in and a shatterproof glass that protects the painting.