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The Mona Lisa.
In 1911, one of the most shocking and bold art thefts in history took place when an Italian handyman named Vincenzo Peruggia stole The Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum in Paris. Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the early 16th century, The Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous and widely recognized painting in the world, known for its mysterious smile and the subject’s subtle, enigmatic expression.
Peruggia’s theft was not the act of a master criminal, but rather a surprising combination of opportunity and misguided patriotism. Working as a handyman at the Louvre, Peruggia believed that the painting rightfully belonged in Italy, not France. He thought it had been taken by Napoleon during his campaigns, though in fact, Leonardo da Vinci had brought it to France himself in the 1500s. Peruggia hid in the museum overnight and, on the morning of August 21, 1911, removed the painting from the wall, concealed it under his coat, and simply walked out.
The theft caused a media frenzy and stunned the art world. The museum was closed for a week, and for over two years, the painting remained missing. Even Pablo Picasso was briefly suspected during the investigation. Eventually, in 1913, Peruggia attempted to sell the painting to an art dealer in Florence, Italy. He was caught, arrested, and the painting was returned to the Louvre, where it remains today, protected under bulletproof glass and viewed by millions of visitors each year.
The theft ironically helped to elevate The Mona Lisa from a renowned Renaissance portrait to a global icon.
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