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HOW THE MONA LISA THEFT TURNED THE ARTWORK INTO AN ICON

Published: 2024-12-07 07:39:01 Last Updated: 2024-12-08 09:41:06

Few art pieces have achieved the same degree of notoriety and renown as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa (c. 1503–1506). The Mona Lisa is the most visited painting in the world, with over 10 million visitors annually to the Louvre. It is less well-known that one of history's most well-publicised art thefts has also affected the treasured painting.
After being on exhibit at the Louvre since 1797, the Mona Lisa was taken from the museum on August 21, 1911, and disappeared for almost three years. Employees at the Louvre were initially unaware of the theft. Since the artwork was frequently dismounted and taken to be cleaned or photographed, an empty spot on the wall wasn't out of the ordinary. When artist Louis Béroud visited the museum two days after the theft, he questioned a guard about the missing painting. The police were eventually called when the guard was unable to locate it.
The ensuing media circus and desperate search increased the painting's appeal and public acclaim. Forensic experts searched for fingerprints, spoke with witnesses, and looked for any potential evidence during the week-long closure of the Louvre. The well-known French poet Guillaume Apollinaire was even suspected by police and later taken into custody after he implicated his friend Pablo Picasso during questioning. A lack of evidence later led to the acquittal of both art legends.
The painting was still in Paris, having been hidden in the apartment of its thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, for two years. Peruggia was a handyman for the Louvre and even helped build the glass case that protects the Mona Lisa. He eventually stole the painting during regular museum hours and hid it inside a broom closet.

He carried one of the most priceless paintings in the world under his coat as he left the museum after it had closed. Peruggia was never a real suspect in the case and appeared to have escaped with the heist, despite being questioned twice by the authorities, who interviewed all of the Louvre's contract and permanent employees.

Eventually, Peruggia became impatient by December 1913. He felt strongly that the Mona Lisa should be brought back to Italy by an Italian immigrant and patriot, and he offered to sell the painting to an Italian gallerist for 500,000 lira. Giovanni Poggi, the director of Florence's Uffizi Galleries, was asked by the gallerist to verify the artwork's authenticity. Once Poggi confirmed that it was, indeed, the Mona Lisa, the men told Peruggia that they would store it for “safekeeping” and then promptly called the authorities, who arrested Peruggia.

After two weeks of exhibition in the Uffizi Galleries, the artwork returned to Paris. The Louvre finally retrieved the Mona Lisa on January 4, 1914. Peruggia was celebrated as a national hero in Italy and was imprisoned for six months for the crime. Even though Peruggia has mostly been forgotten, his theft is part of art history. The theft increased the Mona Lisa's appeal on a global scale, which hasn't diminished even after 500 years since the Renaissance master painted it.

Article Tags: Viral Transform Artwork Theft Mona Lisa