Marcus Chen
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous paintings in the world. It has been the target of theft and vandalism on several occasions. The painting was stolen in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant who had worked at the Louvre. Peruggia was caught when he attempted to sell the painting and served six months in prison. The Mona Lisa has also been vandalised multiple times, including having spray paint and a teacup thrown at it, and being smeared with cake. Despite these incidents, the Mona Lisa has emerged without damage each time, thanks to its protective glass case.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Theft | 21 August 1911 |
| People Involved | Vincenzo Peruggia, Eduardo de Valfierno, Yves Chaudron, Giovanni Poggi, Karl Decker |
| People Arrested | Vincenzo Peruggia, Guillaume Apollinaire, Pablo Picasso |
| People Suspected | J.P. Morgan, German Nationals, Kaiser of Germany |
| Attempts to Damage the Painting | Razor Blade, Rock, Red Paint, Ceramic Teacup, Cake, Soup, Splash |
| Death Count | 0 |
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What You'll Learn
- Vincenzo Peruggia, the Italian immigrant who stole the Mona Lisa, died of a heart attack in 1925
- The painting was evacuated during World War II, protecting it from damage
- A man in love with the painting tried to steal it with a razor blade
- In 2009, a Russian woman threw a teacup at the painting after being denied French citizenship
- The 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre brought it international attention
Vincenzo Peruggia, the Italian immigrant who stole the Mona Lisa, died of a heart attack in 1925
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the world's most famous paintings. However, it was only after the painting was stolen from the Louvre in Paris on 21 August 1911 that it became a global icon. The man behind the heist was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant who had briefly worked at the Louvre fitting glass on a selection of paintings, including the Mona Lisa.
Peruggia had moved to Paris in 1908 and soon after started working at the Louvre, cleaning and reframing paintings. As part of his job, he also constructed protective cases for some of the more valuable artworks, including the Mona Lisa. On the morning of the theft, Peruggia, dressed in the standard uniform of a museum worker, entered the museum through the employee entrance. He made his way to the Salon Carré, where the painting was hung, and removed it from the four iron pegs securing it to the wall. He then took it to a nearby service stairway, where he hid the protective case and frame behind some student artworks. Peruggia told investigators that he wrapped the painting in his smock and tucked it under his arm before leaving the Louvre.
Peruggia kept the painting in his apartment for two years before growing impatient and attempting to sell it. He was caught when he tried to sell it to Giovanni Poggi, the director of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The painting was exhibited in the Uffizi Gallery for over two weeks before being returned to the Louvre on 4 January 1914. Peruggia was put on trial and sentenced to one year and 15 days in prison, although he only served seven months. He was hailed for his patriotism in Italy and later served in the Italian Army during World War I. After the war, he returned to France and worked as a painter and decorator under his birth name, Pietro Peruggia.
On 8 October 1925, his 44th birthday, Vincenzo Peruggia died of a heart attack in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés. His death was not widely reported by the media at the time, possibly because he died under his birth name.
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The painting was evacuated during World War II, protecting it from damage
The Mona Lisa, deemed the most important work of art in France's most important museum, was evacuated during World War II. This was to protect it from damage, theft, or destruction by the Nazis.
Jacques Jaujard, the director of the French Musées Nationaux, anticipated the fall of France and the destruction of cultural treasures via bombings, looting, and theft. As a result, he organized the evacuation of the Louvre's art collection to the provinces. On 25 August 1939, the Louvre was closed for three days, officially for repairs, and the art collection was transported in trucks to various locations in France's countryside.
The Mona Lisa was initially moved to the Château de Chambord, the largest château in the Loire Valley, along with the rest of the Louvre's collection. It was placed in a custom case, cushioned with velvet, and marked with three red dots, indicating the highest priority. The painting was then moved several more times throughout the war to different châteaux and abbeys to avoid being taken by the Nazis. It was finally evacuated to the Musée Ingres in Montauban, where it remained until the end of the war.
The evacuation of the Mona Lisa and other artworks during World War II was a successful effort to protect them from damage and ensure their preservation for future generations. The dedication of individuals like Jacques Jaujard, Louvre curators, and staff played a crucial role in safeguarding these cultural treasures.
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A man in love with the painting tried to steal it with a razor blade
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is considered one of the most famous paintings in the world. It has been the target of theft and vandalism on several occasions.
In 1956, a man who claimed to be in love with the painting tried to steal it by cutting it with a razor blade. This attack was referenced by Salvador Dalí in his 1963 essay "Why they attack the Mona Lisa", which built on earlier Freud theories. The man's attempt to steal the painting with a razor blade was not successful, and the painting was undamaged.
This was not the first time someone had tried to steal the Mona Lisa. In 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant who had previously worked at the Louvre, and two other men, hid in a closet overnight and took the painting off the wall the next morning. Peruggia kept the painting in his apartment for two years before trying to sell it. He was caught and served six months in prison. The painting was returned to the Louvre in 1914.
The painting has also been the target of vandalism in more recent years. In 2009, a Russian woman threw a ceramic teacup at the painting after being denied French citizenship. In 2022, the painting was caked, and in 2024, soup was splashed across it by climate protestors.
Due to these incidents, the painting is now displayed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled enclosure behind bulletproof glass.
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In 2009, a Russian woman threw a teacup at the painting after being denied French citizenship
In 2009, a woman from Russia named Lynda Lou Rafikov approached the Mona Lisa painting at the Louvre Museum in Paris. She had concealed a ceramic cup in her bag, and when she reached the painting, she took out the cup and threw it at the artwork. Fortunately, the cup bounced off the bulletproof glass that protects the painting and shattered on the floor. This incident occurred in April 2009 and caused quite a stir, given the iconic status of the painting.
At the time, Rafikov was reported to be in her late 47s and had been living in France for several years. She had applied for French citizenship but was denied, which apparently sparked her anger and frustration, leading to this act of protest or revenge, as some might interpret it. It is important to note that no one was physically hurt in this incident, and the painting itself was unharmed due to the protective glass. However, the event did raise questions about security measures and the potential vulnerabilities of housing such priceless artworks in public spaces.
After the incident, Rafikov was immediately detained by museum security and then handed over to the Paris police. She was questioned about her motives and underwent a psychiatric evaluation to determine her mental state. During the evaluation, she expressed her frustration and anger towards France and the French people, citing her denied citizenship application as the main trigger for her action.
While Rafikov's actions did not result in any physical damage to the painting or harm to anyone present, they did spark conversations and debates about the appropriate balance between art accessibility and security. The incident also brought attention to the intense emotions and attachments that certain artworks, like the Mona Lisa, can evoke in people. It serves as a reminder that art can inspire not only admiration and wonder but also extreme actions driven by personal grievances or political statements.
It is worth noting that the Mona Lisa has had a rich and sometimes turbulent history, with several incidents of theft, vandalism, and even secret hiding places during wartime. The painting has survived for centuries and remains a cultural icon, continuing to captivate audiences and spark imaginations worldwide, despite these occasional threats and incidents. This particular event in 2009 adds a unique chapter to the painting's story, highlighting the complex relationship between art, culture, and human emotions.
As for Rafikov, her fate after the teacup incident is not widely publicized. She likely faced legal consequences, but the specifics are unknown. Her actions, however, continue to resonate, reminding us of the passionate responses that art can evoke and the ongoing challenge of preserving and protecting our cultural heritage while making it accessible to the public.
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The 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre brought it international attention
The 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa brought international attention to the painting, which has since become one of the most famous artworks in the world. The painting was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris on the morning of 21 August 1911. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, was a former Louvre employee and Italian immigrant who had once worked as a handyman at the museum. Peruggia hid in a closet overnight and, in the early morning, removed the painting from the wall and escaped without suspicion.
The theft of the Mona Lisa caused a media frenzy, with newspapers around the world running headlines about the missing masterpiece. The Louvre received intense scrutiny, with the museum's director of paintings resigning in the aftermath. The poet Guillaume Apollinaire and artist Pablo Picasso were among those arrested as suspects. The investigation turned up few promising leads, and Peruggia kept the painting hidden in his apartment for two years. During this time, the painting became the world's most famous missing artwork, with thousands of people flocking to the Louvre to view the empty space where it had once hung.
Peruggia eventually attempted to sell the painting in 1913, using the alias "Leonard" in correspondence with a Florentine art dealer. He was arrested and sentenced to one year and 15 days in prison but served only six months before being released on appeal. The trial and Peruggia's defence that he had stolen the painting out of national pride won him many admirers in Italy, where he was hailed as a patriot.
The 1911 theft brought the Mona Lisa into the international spotlight, and it has since become a cultural icon. The painting has been the target of multiple vandalism attempts and has been evacuated to various locations during times of war. Today, it is displayed in a purpose-built, climate-controlled enclosure behind bulletproof glass in the Louvre Museum, where it attracts millions of visitors each year.
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Frequently asked questions
No one died during the theft of the Mona Lisa. Vincenzo Peruggia, the Italian immigrant who stole the painting, was arrested, tried, and imprisoned. He was released from jail after a short time and died of natural causes in 1925.
No one is known to have died trying to protect the Mona Lisa.
No one is known to have died while attempting to vandalize the Mona Lisa.
