The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Created by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th century, it has been on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris since 1797. But in 1911, the painting was stolen, causing a sensation that lasted for years.
The Theft
On August 21, 1911, a man named Vincenzo Peruggia, who worked at the Louvre as a handyman, walked into the museum and took the painting off the wall. He hid it under his coat and walked out of the museum with it.
It wasn't until the next day that the museum realized the painting was missing. The news of the theft quickly spread around the world, and the police launched a massive investigation.
The Investigation
The police suspected several people, including famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire. They even questioned the famous writer, Marcel Proust.
But it was Peruggia who was eventually caught. He had taken the painting to his apartment in Paris and kept it there for two years. When he tried to sell it to an art dealer in Florence, Italy, he was arrested.
The Motive
Peruggia claimed that he had stolen the painting to return it to its rightful home in Italy. He believed that da Vinci had painted the Mona Lisa for an Italian nobleman, and that it had been illegally taken to France during the Napoleonic Wars.
However, this theory was not supported by any evidence, and it is more likely that Peruggia simply wanted to make money by selling the painting.
The Aftermath
After the theft, the Mona Lisa became even more famous. It was returned to the Louvre, where it was put on display again. Security at the museum was increased, and the painting was put behind a bulletproof glass case.
Peruggia was sentenced to one year and 15 days in jail for the theft. He was released after just seven months, and he went on to live a normal life, eventually dying in 1947.
The Legacy
The theft of the Mona Lisa remains one of the most famous art heists in history. It has been the subject of books, movies, and TV shows. It also led to increased security measures at museums around the world.
Today, the Mona Lisa is still one of the most popular attractions at the Louvre. Millions of people visit the museum every year to see the painting that was once stolen and then returned.