August 22
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MONA LISA? DAY
Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, Mona Lisa, was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris on this night in 1911. Those who visited the Louvre stared at the blank space on the wall where the world’s most famous painting had hung. One could almost believe that they could see the painting of the woman with the enigmatic smile. After all, it had hung in the same spot for over a century and had been a part of French art collections for over 400 years, even though da Vinci, who had painted the masterpiece at the beginning of the 16th century, practiced his art in Florence, Italy.
Was the theft the work of a madman? A professional thief couldn’t sell the world’s most famous painting ... so it must have been someone who had lost their mental faculties ... or was it? In a little over two weeks time, the French police arrested gothic poet Guillaume Apollinaire. He was charged with receipt of stolen property. But the space on the wall of the Louvre remained empty for at least two more years.
Then, on December 13, 1913, Mona Lisa was found, undamaged, in the city of its origin. It seems that another Florence artist, this one of the 20th century, Vincenzo Perugia, had been arrested for stealing the painting. Vincenzo had tried to sell the painting to an antique dealer.
We guess Vincenzo hadn’t read the stories that said no one would buy the stolen Mona Lisa.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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