 |
|
What Happened on this Day in History
|
| We are part of the On this day in history and Business in Berkshire and Liaise Online Networks...
|
|
|
1913 The Mona Lisa, Stolen From The Louvre In 1911, Is Recovered
The Mona Lisa, which had been stolen from the Louvre in 1911, is recovered from its hiding place in the bedroom of a small hotel in Florence.
Perhaps the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa was discovered missing in 1911 by a painter called Louis Beroud who found four iron pegs where the painting should have been. The museum was closed for an entire week to help the investigation into the theft.
Two years later, it was discovered that one the museum’s employees, Vincenzo Peruggia had stolen the painting by hiding in a broom closet and waiting until the museum had closed, walking out with it stuffed under his coat when night had fallen.
Peruggia had been paid to steal it by a con man who had hired a forger to make copies of the original that could then be sold around the world as the real thing.
After hiding the painting in his closet for two years, Peruggia finally grew impatient and tried to sell it to an art dealer in Florence. He was caught in the process and the painting was exhibited all over Italy before it was returned to its home in the Louvre.
EMAIL THIS PAGE
PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION
|
|
