Famous Art Thefts and Security Breaches at the Louvre Museum: From Mona Lisa to Modern Day

Police and museum officials are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.

New Delhi:

The world-renowned Louvre Museum in Paris closed its doors on Sunday following a robbery, as confirmed by France's Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Authorities have not released specific details regarding what items were stolen or how the thieves executed the robbery. Law enforcement and museum staff are actively investigating the situation. According to reports, jewelry items were taken during the heist.

The Louvre Museum, celebrated globally for its extensive collection of artistic and historical treasures, has unfortunately experienced several security breaches and thefts throughout its history. Here are some of the most notable incidents:

The 1911 Mona Lisa Heist

On August 21, 1911, Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia orchestrated the theft of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Dressed as a museum employee, he concealed himself overnight and removed the painting the following morning. The theft remained undiscovered until the next day, and authorities recovered the masterpiece in 1913 when Peruggia attempted to sell it in Florence, Italy.

Attacks on the Mona Lisa

In 1956, the Mona Lisa survived two separate attacks: one involving a razor blade, and another when a Bolivian man hurled a rock at it, causing minor damage that was easily repaired.

During a 1974 exhibition in Tokyo, a woman entered carrying red spray paint and sprayed the painting's protective glass enclosure. Thanks to this barrier, the artwork remained intact.

In 2009, a Russian woman protested her denied French citizenship by smashing a teacup against the Mona Lisa's protective glass, which prevented any damage to the painting.

A climate change protestor smeared cake on the Mona Lisa in 2022, but the artwork remained protected behind its bulletproof enclosure.

In 2024, environmental activists threw soup at the bulletproof glass protecting the Mona Lisa as a statement advocating for sustainable agriculture. The painting remained unharmed.

Nazi Looting During World War II

During the German occupation of France in World War II, the Louvre's priceless collection faced significant theft risks. Under Jacques Jaujard's direction, many artworks were evacuated and hidden in secure locations. Despite these protective efforts, Nazi forces seized numerous pieces. Post-war initiatives focused on recovering and returning these looted treasures. Recovered items are designated with "MNR" (Musees Nationaux Recuperation) to facilitate restitution efforts.

The 1971 Disappearance of Courbet's The Wave

In 1971, professional thieves stole Gustave Courbet's painting The Wave from the Louvre. Despite extensive investigations, the painting has never been recovered, and its disappearance remains an unsolved mystery.

Chardin's Vanished Still Life

Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin's 18th-century still life painting mysteriously disappeared from the Louvre under circumstances that remain unclear.

The 1983 Attempted Heist

In 1983, thieves attempted to steal Eugene Delacroix's iconic Liberty Leading the People (a masterpiece depicting the 1830 French Revolution) from the Louvre. Authorities apprehended the gang before they could escape, and the painting remained unharmed.

The 1983 Armor Theft and Recovery

Two Renaissance armor pieces—an ornate Milanese helmet and breastplate donated by the Rothschild family in 1922—were stolen in 1983. Remarkably, the Louvre recovered these items almost four decades later in 2021 when a military expert in Bordeaux identified them.