Exactly 113 years ago today, at 7am, a man called Vincenzo Peruggia...
The Cultural Tutor@culturaltutor
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Aug 22, 2024
~6 min read
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Exactly 113 years ago today, at 7am, a man called Vincenzo Peruggia entered the Louvre in Paris.
Later that day he left with something wrapped in a shirt and tucked under his arm — the Mona Lisa.
This is the story of how the world's most famous painting became so famous...
Later that day he left with something wrapped in a shirt and tucked under his arm — the Mona Lisa.
This is the story of how the world's most famous painting became so famous...
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First — the painting itself.
Because although the Mona Lisa is the most famous work of art in the world, its origins aren't well known.
Why is it called "La Gioconda" in Italian? How did it end up in the Louvre? And who is the woman in the portrait?
Because although the Mona Lisa is the most famous work of art in the world, its origins aren't well known.
Why is it called "La Gioconda" in Italian? How did it end up in the Louvre? And who is the woman in the portrait?
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Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 and by the 1480s had made his name, in Florence, as an artist and man of genius.
He was invited to Milan by Duke Ludovico Sforza in 1482 and stayed there for 17 years.
It was in Milan that he painted (among other things) The Last Supper.
He was invited to Milan by Duke Ludovico Sforza in 1482 and stayed there for 17 years.
It was in Milan that he painted (among other things) The Last Supper.
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Leonardo left Milan in 1500 and three years later was back in Florence.
In 1503 he was commissioned by a silk merchant called Francesco del Giocondo to paint his wife, Lisa Gherardini, to celebrate moving into a new home.
As imagined in this 1863 painting by Cesare Maccari.
In 1503 he was commissioned by a silk merchant called Francesco del Giocondo to paint his wife, Lisa Gherardini, to celebrate moving into a new home.
As imagined in this 1863 painting by Cesare Maccari.
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But Leonardo left Florence in 1508, having never finished the portrait, and took it with him.
So the subject of the world's most famous painting, Lisa del Giocondo, never saw it completed.
That also explains its Italian name, "Gioconda", a pun on her name that means "happy".
So the subject of the world's most famous painting, Lisa del Giocondo, never saw it completed.
That also explains its Italian name, "Gioconda", a pun on her name that means "happy".
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Leonardo first went to Milan, then Rome.
But in 1516 King Francis I of France, who was a big fan of Leonardo, invited him to France and offered to patronise his work.
So Leonardo went there, taking the Mona Lisa with him, and was given a manor called Clos Lucé.
But in 1516 King Francis I of France, who was a big fan of Leonardo, invited him to France and offered to patronise his work.
So Leonardo went there, taking the Mona Lisa with him, and was given a manor called Clos Lucé.
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There Leonardo remained until the end of his life in 1519, where Francis supposedly held him in his arms to the last, as imagined in this painting by Ingres.
Whether Francis bought the Mona Lisa or it was gifted to him is unclear.
But in France it was, and legally so.
Whether Francis bought the Mona Lisa or it was gifted to him is unclear.
But in France it was, and legally so.
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The Mona Lisa hung in the Palace of Fontainebleau, a summer residence of the French kings, and while there protective varnish was applied — hence its yellowish tinge.
When King Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles, in the 17th century, he moved it there.
When King Louis XIV built the Palace of Versailles, in the 17th century, he moved it there.
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In 1793, after the French Revolution, the Louvre — once a royal palace — was converted into a public museum to display France's artistic treasures.
So in 1797 the Mona Lisa was taken from Versailles and placed there instead... but in 1800 Napoleon had it hung in his bedroom.
So in 1797 the Mona Lisa was taken from Versailles and placed there instead... but in 1800 Napoleon had it hung in his bedroom.
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In 1804 the Mona Lisa was returned to the Louvre and placed in the Grand Gallery — as you can see in this 1833 painting.
It soon came to be regarded as a masterpiece, but the Mona Lisa wasn't overly popular with the public and wasn't as well known as other paintings.
For now...
It soon came to be regarded as a masterpiece, but the Mona Lisa wasn't overly popular with the public and wasn't as well known as other paintings.
For now...
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Vincenzo Peruggia was an Italian who arrived in Paris in 1907 in search of work.
He got a job at the Louvre in 1908, helping to clean paintings and build new frames for them.
While working at the Louvre he learned how many works of art Napoleon had stolen from Italy.
He got a job at the Louvre in 1908, helping to clean paintings and build new frames for them.
While working at the Louvre he learned how many works of art Napoleon had stolen from Italy.
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Despite being the most famous theft in art history it was remarkably easy.
Peruggia arrived at the Louvre on the morning of the 21st August 1911, a day when it was closed to the public.
He went to the Salon Carré, where the Mona Lisa was kept, and took it off the wall.
Peruggia arrived at the Louvre on the morning of the 21st August 1911, a day when it was closed to the public.
He went to the Salon Carré, where the Mona Lisa was kept, and took it off the wall.
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What happened next is somewhat unclear, but it seems Peruggia hid the painting in a cupboard until the end of the day.
Then he wrapped it in his smock (a sort of overshirt) and left the Louvre with it tucked under his arm.
Simple as that.
Then he wrapped it in his smock (a sort of overshirt) and left the Louvre with it tucked under his arm.
Simple as that.
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Why did Peruggia steal the Mona Lisa?
He was an Italian patriot who wanted to restore Italy's artistic heritage, which had been pillaged by Napoleon.
The irony here is that, though France was filled with stolen art, the Mona Lisa had been taken there by Leonardo himself.
He was an Italian patriot who wanted to restore Italy's artistic heritage, which had been pillaged by Napoleon.
The irony here is that, though France was filled with stolen art, the Mona Lisa had been taken there by Leonardo himself.
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It wasn't until the next day anybody realised the Mona Lisa was missing, at which point the authorities were alerted, the press heard about it, and the theft became an international phenomenon reported in newspapers around the world.
An unusual, controversial, captivating story.
An unusual, controversial, captivating story.
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The police were clueless, even questioning Pablo Picasso.
The American businessman J.P. Morgan was also suspected of having commissioned the theft.
There was a fear of French art being bought up by Americans, and the loss of the Mona Lisa was seen as a national disgrace.
The American businessman J.P. Morgan was also suspected of having commissioned the theft.
There was a fear of French art being bought up by Americans, and the loss of the Mona Lisa was seen as a national disgrace.
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Tourists came flocking to the Louvre to see the empty spot where the Mona Lisa had been — an acclaimed but relatively unknown portrait had suddenly become the world's most talked-about painting.
All the while Peruggia had the Mona Lisa in a suitcase in his Parisian apartment.
All the while Peruggia had the Mona Lisa in a suitcase in his Parisian apartment.
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In December 1913 he took it to Florence... and an art dealer called Alfredo Geri received a mysterious letter offering to sell him the Mona Lisa.
So Geri contacted the director of the Uffizi Gallery, Giovanni Poggi.
They met Peruggia, verified the painting, and told the police.
So Geri contacted the director of the Uffizi Gallery, Giovanni Poggi.
They met Peruggia, verified the painting, and told the police.
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Peruggia was arrested, newspapers around the world reported that the Mona Lisa had been recovered, and after being displayed for two weeks in Italy it was returned with great ceremony to the Louvre.
Thereafter it became, and has remained, the world's most famous painting.
Thereafter it became, and has remained, the world's most famous painting.
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It's undoubtedly a masterpiece, but many people rightly wonder why it is so famous when there are other paintings more important, interesting, and beautiful.
Well, it's all thanks to Vincenzo Peruggia, whose theft gave the Mona Lisa a unique place in the public consciousness.
Well, it's all thanks to Vincenzo Peruggia, whose theft gave the Mona Lisa a unique place in the public consciousness.
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So the Mona Lisa isn't famous because it's the best work of art ever made — it is the world's most famous painting... simply because it's so famous.
A self-perpetuating cycle spurred on by books, films, and sheer weight of general awareness.
A self-perpetuating cycle spurred on by books, films, and sheer weight of general awareness.
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Peruggia's trial took place in June 1914, six months after being arrested.
But by July he had been released — because he was hailed as a hero in Italy and there was public pressure for leniency.
He later served in WWI and afterward returned to France under a different name.
But by July he had been released — because he was hailed as a hero in Italy and there was public pressure for leniency.
He later served in WWI and afterward returned to France under a different name.
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And so Vincenzo Peruggia seemingly got what he wanted.
Because, although the Mona Lisa was returned to France, his theft ensured an Italian painting became the most famous work of art in the world.
Will it always be so famous... or will another work one day take its place?
Because, although the Mona Lisa was returned to France, his theft ensured an Italian painting became the most famous work of art in the world.
Will it always be so famous... or will another work one day take its place?