The Theft of the Mona Lisa
In 1911, while being held at a museum in Paris, one of the world’s greatest and most famous paintings, the Mona Lisa, was stolen. To this day, this particular crime is one of the most popular and famous of all, but why? What makes this crime one of the most remembered? Well, there were lots of aspects to this story that make it so interesting. Somewhere between 1504 and 1519, the masterpiece called the Mona Lisa was created.(Totally History) A world famous artist, scientist, doctor, and even inventor named Leonardo da Vinci is the man who brought to us now one of the most famous pieces of art in history. The Mona Lisa is an oil painting with a rare cottonwood panel as the surface. Now, throughout history people …show more content…
The thief's name was Vincenzo Peruggia.( Science Illustrated) He was a previous worker at the Louvre and many times thought about taking the piece long before his plan was actually placed into action.(Science Illustrated) Although there are many different stories about exactly why Peruggia wanted to steal the Mona Lisa. Some sources say that he wanted to“return the painting to artist Leonardo da Vinci's native Italy”,(Daniels. P.) while others believe that there was a mastermind conman named Eduardo de Valfierno paid Peruggia to steal the painting so he can make fake copies and sell it as the original,( The Times) but the fact of the matter is that he did, and right under the Louvre of Paris’ nose. One night, on August 21, 1911 it was reported that Peruggia hid in a storage closet in the museum. He had been hiding there since the museum closed the night before. After hours, when all staff of the Louvre had left, Vincenzo Peruggia creeped out of the closet and took the Mona Lisa straight off the wall. Once he had it in his possession he hid it underneath his smock and walked straight out the front door and brought it to his apartment there in Paris. The next day the maintenance staff noticed the empty spot on the wall but thought nothing of it. They assumed that it has been moved by one of the museums photographers. …show more content…
He also multiple times interrupted the court. He argued with the judge and even got into a verbal argument with his own lawyer. He also claimed that the beauty of this painting bewitched him and he had to “ rescue her from France”. Many times Peruggia contradicted himself saying the he worked alone, then also trying to bring in two other Italian friends into this trial, but there was no conclusive evidence to support his accusation. Obviously this defense was not enough for him to not be charged with his theft. The prosecutors brought overwhelming evidence and Peruggia was sentenced to jail. While in jail, he actually received “love letters” from people who thought that is was amazing that he was able to steal the Mona Lisa. Still, to this day, the stealing of the Mona Lisa is one of the most memorable crimes throughout the world.(PBS) To summarize all that has been explained previously, on August 21, 1911 one of the world's most famous paintings was stolen by a man name Vincenzo Peruggia. He held it captive for two years is a cupboard in his small apartment in France. During those two years there was chaos in France trying to find their beloved Mona Lisa. One being captured after mailing a letter to an art dealer, he was placed on trial that put in jail for his
In 1911, while being held at a museum in Paris, one of the world’s greatest and most famous paintings, the Mona Lisa, was stolen. To this day, this particular crime is one of the most popular and famous of all, but why? What makes this crime one of the most remembered? Well, there were lots of aspects to this story that make it so interesting. Somewhere between 1504 and 1519, the masterpiece called the Mona Lisa was created.(Totally History) A world famous artist, scientist, doctor, and even inventor named Leonardo da Vinci is the man who brought to us now one of the most famous pieces of art in history. The Mona Lisa is an oil painting with a rare cottonwood panel as the surface. Now, throughout history people …show more content…
The thief's name was Vincenzo Peruggia.( Science Illustrated) He was a previous worker at the Louvre and many times thought about taking the piece long before his plan was actually placed into action.(Science Illustrated) Although there are many different stories about exactly why Peruggia wanted to steal the Mona Lisa. Some sources say that he wanted to“return the painting to artist Leonardo da Vinci's native Italy”,(Daniels. P.) while others believe that there was a mastermind conman named Eduardo de Valfierno paid Peruggia to steal the painting so he can make fake copies and sell it as the original,( The Times) but the fact of the matter is that he did, and right under the Louvre of Paris’ nose. One night, on August 21, 1911 it was reported that Peruggia hid in a storage closet in the museum. He had been hiding there since the museum closed the night before. After hours, when all staff of the Louvre had left, Vincenzo Peruggia creeped out of the closet and took the Mona Lisa straight off the wall. Once he had it in his possession he hid it underneath his smock and walked straight out the front door and brought it to his apartment there in Paris. The next day the maintenance staff noticed the empty spot on the wall but thought nothing of it. They assumed that it has been moved by one of the museums photographers. …show more content…
He also multiple times interrupted the court. He argued with the judge and even got into a verbal argument with his own lawyer. He also claimed that the beauty of this painting bewitched him and he had to “ rescue her from France”. Many times Peruggia contradicted himself saying the he worked alone, then also trying to bring in two other Italian friends into this trial, but there was no conclusive evidence to support his accusation. Obviously this defense was not enough for him to not be charged with his theft. The prosecutors brought overwhelming evidence and Peruggia was sentenced to jail. While in jail, he actually received “love letters” from people who thought that is was amazing that he was able to steal the Mona Lisa. Still, to this day, the stealing of the Mona Lisa is one of the most memorable crimes throughout the world.(PBS) To summarize all that has been explained previously, on August 21, 1911 one of the world's most famous paintings was stolen by a man name Vincenzo Peruggia. He held it captive for two years is a cupboard in his small apartment in France. During those two years there was chaos in France trying to find their beloved Mona Lisa. One being captured after mailing a letter to an art dealer, he was placed on trial that put in jail for his