The Mona Lisa has indeed been stolen, on August 22 1911. It's home was then, as now, in the Louvre Gallery in Paris. The gold frame had been left in the Louvre, but the painting itself had disappeared.
The Mona Lisa remained missing for over two years. Then eventually the thief wrote to an art dealer indicating that he had stolen the Mona Lisa.
The thief and the painting were tracked down to a hotel in Florence, Italy and the thief, Vincenzo Perrugia, an Italian painter and decorator was arrested.
He had actually been one of four workmen who had helped re-frame the painting in 1910 and was said to have become obsessed by it after that experience.
In 1914 he pleaded guilty to the theft and was sentenced to one year and 15 days in prison. Later he redeemed himself by serving in the first World War and returned to Paris after the end of the war.
The Mona Lisa remained missing for over two years. Then eventually the thief wrote to an art dealer indicating that he had stolen the Mona Lisa.
The thief and the painting were tracked down to a hotel in Florence, Italy and the thief, Vincenzo Perrugia, an Italian painter and decorator was arrested.
He had actually been one of four workmen who had helped re-frame the painting in 1910 and was said to have become obsessed by it after that experience.
In 1914 he pleaded guilty to the theft and was sentenced to one year and 15 days in prison. Later he redeemed himself by serving in the first World War and returned to Paris after the end of the war.
