Mona Lisa theft from the Louvre marks 115 years

On August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, was a former museum employee who knew the building's layout and security weaknesses. He removed the painting from its frame and concealed it under his clothing before exiting the museum.

The theft caused international shock and led to a week-long closure of the Louvre. During the investigation, authorities interrogated several high-profile figures, including the artist Pablo Picasso and the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, though both were eventually cleared of involvement.

The painting remained missing for over two years. Peruggia was eventually apprehended in December 1913 when he attempted to sell the artwork to the director of the Uffizi Gallery in Italy, claiming a patriotic motive to return the piece to its country of origin. The Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre on January 4, 1914.