Mona Lisa was stolen and hidden in an apartment

On this day today, 21 August 1911, The famous Painting Mona Lisa was Stolen.

Yes, the great Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris  by Vincenzo Peruggia (8 October 1881 – 8 October 1925) who was an Italian museum worker, artist and thief.

Painted by the renowned Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa is a painting of a women famous for her mysterious facial expression and smile. this art piece is considered as a masterpiece of the Renaissance period.

Although the exact dates of when Mona Lisa was painted is unknown, it was most probably created around 1507.

the size of Mona Lisa is approximately 30 inches (77 cm) in height and 20.87 inches (53 cm) in width. Although the size of the painting is considerable small, the Painting is much adored by the world to admire the intricate details and mysterious expression.

The theft of Mona Lisa is considered is the most famous Art Theft of 20th Century.

It is believed that Peruggia stole the painting and hid it under his Smock. While some other believe that he rapped the smock around the painting, it is also believed that he hid the painting in his apartment in Florence afterwards.  Some believe that he did this to get a reward when he would return the painting.

The painting was later recovered by the Mario Fratelli, the owner of the art gallery who was contacted by Peruggia himself. Perrugia was later arrested by Police.

Following its retrieval, the artwork was showcased across Italy under triumphant headlines celebrating its comeback. The Mona Lisa was subsequently brought back to the Louvre in 1913.  Although the painting was already renowned prior to the theft, the attention garnered from media coverage and the extensive police inquiry contributed significantly to elevating its global recognition. This surge in attention generated substantial public fascination and transformed the artwork into one of the most universally recognized pieces in existence.

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