When did Mona Lisa get stolen? This question has intrigued art enthusiasts and historians alike for decades. The theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, remains one of the most significant art heists in history.
The Mona Lisa was stolen on August 21, 1911, from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, was an Italian employee of the Louvre. He had been working there for several years and was said to have been deeply influenced by the painting. Peruggia’s motive for the theft was not immediately clear, but it is believed that he wanted to return the painting to Italy, where he thought it belonged.
Peruggia hid the Mona Lisa in a Parisian apartment, where it remained for two years. During this time, he attempted to sell the painting to various individuals, including the Italian government, but was unsuccessful. The theft of the Mona Lisa became a major international news story, and the Louvre launched an extensive investigation to recover the painting.
In 1913, the Mona Lisa was recovered in Florence, Italy. However, Peruggia was not the one who returned it. Instead, it was discovered that the painting had been stolen by a group of art dealers, who planned to sell it on the black market. The group was caught, and the Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre, where it remains today.
The theft of the Mona Lisa has sparked numerous theories and speculations over the years. Some believe that the painting was stolen by a rival art thief, while others suggest that it was part of a larger conspiracy. Regardless of the true circumstances, the theft of the Mona Lisa remains a captivating and mysterious event in the history of art.
