Vincenzo Peruggia: The Louvre Worker Who Stole the Mona Lisa in 1911

On August 21, 1911, the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant working at the Louvre. The following day, the theft was uncovered, leading to a worldwide media uproar and the resignation of Director Jean Théophile Homolle. Numerous false leads emerged, including supposed sightings in Brazil and Japan, along with interrogations of Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire. Peruggia held onto the artwork for more than two years. In November 1913, he reached out to art dealer Alfredo Geri, proposing a return at a reduced price. He was arrested on December 12, 1913, after checking into the Hotel Tripoli in Florence and was sentenced to one year and 15 days in June 1914. Released in July 1914, he later fought in World War I and passed away in France in October 1925.