Archive · 21 Aug 2025
Mona Lisa's 1911 Heist: The Painting's Rise to Fame
In 1911, someone took the Mona Lisa from a museum in Paris.
The person who took it worked at the museum before.
They hid the painting for over two years.
This made the painting super famous!
Everyone started talking about it.
The thief got caught when he tried to sell it.
The painting went back to the museum.
Because of this theft, the painting became even more famous.
The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in 1911 by Vincenzo Peruggia.
Peruggia, a former Louvre employee, hid the painting for over two years.
The theft made the painting a global cultural icon.
Peruggia claimed he stole the painting out of patriotism.
The painting was recovered in 1913 when Peruggia attempted to sell it.
- Who
- Vincenzo Peruggia stole the painting.
- What
- The Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum.
- When
- 1911
- Where
- Louvre Museum, Paris
- Why
- Peruggia claimed patriotic motives.
Vincenzo Peruggia's perspective
Others' Perspective
Motive for Theft
Vincenzo Peruggia's perspective
Peruggia's reason for the theft was to return the painting to Italy, believing it to be an Italian treasure.
Others' Perspective
The motive was greed and financial gain.
- Date of Theft
- 1911
- Location of Theft
- Louvre Museum, Paris
- Stolen Artwork
- Mona Lisa
- Thief
- Vincenzo Peruggia
- Recovery Year
- 1913
