Isabella Flores
On 21 August 1911, the world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, was stolen from the Louvre in Paris. The thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant and Louvre employee who had helped construct the painting's protective frame. Peruggia entered the museum on its closure day, wearing a standard employee's coat, and removed the painting from the wall. He was arrested in 1913 after attempting to sell the painting to a Florentine art dealer, bringing the Mona Lisa to public attention and making it one of the best-known artworks in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Theft | 21 August 1911 |
| Day of the Week | Monday |
| Time | 7 am |
| Painting | Mona Lisa |
| Artist | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Thief | Vincenzo Peruggia |
| Occupation of Thief | Italian Decorator, Glazier, Cleaner, Paint Crop, Handyman |
| Motive | Patriotism, Profit |
| Recovery | Recovered two years later in 1913 |
| Location of Recovery | Florence, Italy |
| Arrest | Vincenzo Peruggia was arrested on 12 December 1913 |
| Location of Painting | Found under Peruggia's bed |
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What You'll Learn
The Mona Lisa was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia
On 21 August 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Peruggia was an Italian immigrant who had previously worked at the Louvre as a glazier, cleaner, and handyman. He had even helped construct the Mona Lisa's protective frame and would have known how to open it in minutes.
Peruggia entered the Louvre on the morning of 21 August 1911, wearing a white smock that made him look like a museum employee. It was a quiet morning, and the Louvre was nearly empty as it was closed to the public on Mondays during the summer holidays. Peruggia lifted the painting off the four iron pegs securing it to the wall and took it to a nearby service stairway, where he removed the protective case and frame. He then hid the discarded elements behind some student artworks stored on the staircase landing.
Peruggia claimed that he stole the Mona Lisa for patriotic reasons, as he wanted to bring the painting back to Italy, which he believed it had been stolen from by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars. However, experts have questioned this motive, as Peruggia attempted to profit from the sale of the painting rather than donating it to an Italian museum. In December 1913, Peruggia, using the alias "Leonard," contacted a Florentine art dealer named Alfredo Geri and informed him that he had stolen the Mona Lisa and wanted to sell it for 500,000 lire. Geri and Poggi, the director of the Uffizi, authenticated the painting and reported Peruggia to the authorities. On 12 December 1913, police arrested Peruggia at his hotel, and he was charged with theft and put on trial in Italy.
The theft of the Mona Lisa became one of the largest features in reporting history, rendering the painting world-renowned. After its recovery, the painting was exhibited all over Italy and then returned to the Louvre in 1913, where it attracted record-breaking crowds. The notoriety it received from the newspaper headlines and the large-scale police investigation helped the artwork become one of the best-known in the world, gaining considerable public interest.
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Peruggia worked at the Louvre and hid the painting
On 21 August 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant who had worked at the Louvre as a handyman and glazier, stole the Mona Lisa. During his time at the Louvre, Peruggia had helped construct the Mona Lisa's protective frame and box, and would have known how to open it in minutes.
Peruggia entered the Louvre on the morning of Monday, 21 August 1911, wearing a white smock that made him indistinguishable from other workers. The Louvre was nearly empty since it was closed to the public on Mondays during the summer holidays. Peruggia lifted the painting off the four iron pegs that secured it to the wall and took it to a nearby service stairway, where he removed the protective case and frame, hiding the discarded elements behind some student artwork.
Peruggia had briefly worked at the Louvre, cleaning and reframing paintings. His job also required him to construct strong cases for some of the artworks in the museum, including the one for the Mona Lisa. This gave him the necessary knowledge of the museum's internal operations to carry out the theft.
Peruggia's motive for stealing the Mona Lisa was reportedly national pride, as he believed the painting had been looted from his native Italy during the Napoleonic Wars. He wanted to return the painting to Italy, and he may have been sincere in this motive. However, experts have questioned this, as he attempted to profit from the sale of the painting rather than donating it to an Italian museum.
Peruggia finally attempted to sell the painting in December 1913, contacting a Florentine art dealer named Alfredo Geri under the alias "Leonard". He informed Geri that he had stolen the Mona Lisa and wanted to repatriate it to Italy. However, Geri and Poggi, the director of the Uffizi, reported the thief to the authorities after authenticating the painting. Peruggia was arrested at his hotel, and the Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre in 1913.
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Peruggia was motivated by Italian patriotism
On 21 August 1911, Vincenzo Peruggia stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Peruggia was an Italian immigrant who had worked at the Louvre as a glazier, cleaner, and handyman. He had even helped construct the Mona Lisa's protective frame.
Peruggia's motivation for stealing the Mona Lisa was Italian patriotism. He believed that the painting had been looted from his native Italy during the Napoleonic Wars and wanted to return it to its rightful home. In his own words, he did it for a patriotic reason and did not want the picture given back to the Louvre. Peruggia brought the painting back to Florence, and it was exhibited all over Italy before being returned to the Louvre in 1913.
During his interrogation and trial in Italy, Peruggia continued to claim that national pride had inspired him to steal the painting. He stated that he had learned about how Napoleon plundered many Italian works of art during the Napoleonic Wars while working at the Louvre. However, experts have questioned the patriotism motive. They argue that if patriotism were the true motive, Peruggia would have donated the painting to an Italian museum rather than attempting to profit from its sale. This is supported by letters that Peruggia sent to his father after the theft, indicating a focus on monetary gain.
Peruggia's theft of the Mona Lisa had a significant impact on the artwork's fame and public interest. The large-scale police investigation and newspaper headlines turned the Mona Lisa into one of the best-known artworks in the world, drawing record-breaking crowds to the Louvre. The notoriety of the theft also contributed to the painting's popularity and public interest.
Peruggia's Italian patriotism may have been a factor in his decision to steal the Mona Lisa, but it is also possible that financial gain played a role, as suggested by his later attempts to sell the painting and the letters to his father. The theft's impact on the fame and popularity of the Mona Lisa is undeniable, solidifying its place as one of the most renowned artworks in history.
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Pablo Picasso was embroiled in the scandal
On 21 August 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris. The painting was created by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th century and is considered one of the most famous works of art in the world.
The pair were arrested because they had previously purchased stolen sculptures from the Louvre. Honoré-Joseph Géry Pieret, Apollinaire's former secretary, stole two ancient Iberian sculpted heads from the museum in 1906 or 1907. He sold them to Picasso for 50 francs each, and the artist used them as inspiration for his work 'Les Demoiselles d’Avignon'.
Fearing deportation, Picasso and Apollinaire stuffed the sculptures into an old suitcase and headed for the banks of the Seine, intending to dispose of the evidence. However, Apollinaire confessed to the crime, and the judge threw out the case, determining that the pair had nothing to do with the disappearance of the Mona Lisa.
The real thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian artist who had worked at the Louvre. He stole the painting because he wanted to bring it back to Italy, claiming that it had been stolen from the country by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars.
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The painting was recovered two years later
On 21 August 1911, the world's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, had once worked at the Louvre as a glazier and handyman, and had even helped construct the Mona Lisa's protective frame. Peruggia entered the museum on its closure day, wearing a white smock that made him indistinguishable from other workers. He removed the painting from the wall and took it to a nearby service stairway, where he discarded the protective case and frame.
After its recovery, the painting was exhibited all over Italy with banner headlines rejoicing its return. The Mona Lisa was then returned to the Louvre in 1913. While the painting was famous before the theft, the notoriety it received from the newspaper headlines and the large-scale police investigation helped it become one of the best-known artworks in the world, gaining considerable public interest.
Peruggia, meanwhile, was charged with theft and put on trial in Italy. During his testimony, he claimed that national pride had inspired him to steal the painting, as he believed it had been looted from his native Italy during the Napoleonic Wars. He said he did it for patriotic reasons and wanted to bring the painting back for display in Italy. Experts have questioned this motive, suggesting that if patriotism was the true motive, Peruggia would have donated the painting to an Italian museum rather than attempting to profit from its sale.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th century, was stolen from the Louvre in 1911.
Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant and former Louvre employee, stole the painting. Peruggia worked as a cleaner and glazier at the Louvre and helped construct the Mona Lisa's protective frame.
Peruggia claimed that he stole the painting for patriotic reasons, as he wanted to bring it back to Italy, where he believed it had been looted from during the Napoleonic Wars. However, experts have questioned this motive, as Peruggia attempted to profit from the sale of the painting instead of donating it to an Italian museum.
Peruggia entered the Louvre on Monday, 21 August 1911, wearing a standard employee coat, making him indistinguishable from other workers. He removed the painting from the wall and took it to a nearby service stairway, where he discarded the protective case and frame. The museum initially had no idea the painting was missing, assuming it was out for photography.
