The Greatest Art Heist In History

Summary

In a gripping tale of deception and cunning, a thief successfully steals the Mona Lisa from the Louvre during a record heatwave, evading capture for two years. Despite numerous false leads and famous suspects, the true culprit, Vincenzo Peruggia, hid the masterpiece in his apartment until he grew impatient and attempted to return it. His heist was ultimately revealed to have been part of a larger scheme involving art forgery. The story unfolds with twists and reveals the complex plan behind one of history's most famous art thefts.

Takeaways

• 😀 A record-breaking heat wave hit Paris, leaving the Louvre quieter than ever, setting the stage for the heist of the century.
• 😀 The thief, disguised as a Louvre employee, successfully stole the Mona Lisa by removing it from its frame and sneaking out of the museum.
• 😀 The heist was completed within minutes, but it took 28 hours before anyone realized the painting was missing.
• 😀 The theft triggered a global investigation, with wild theories placing the painting in places like Belgium, America, and even linking it to Pablo Picasso.
• 😀 In the end, the painting was found in the apartment of Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian former employee of the Louvre who knew the museum's inner workings.
• 😀 Peruggia managed to avoid capture for two years, using his criminal record's absence of a match for left-hand fingerprints to evade detection.
• 😀 After two years, Peruggia got impatient and wrote an anonymous letter to an art dealer in Florence, claiming to have the Mona Lisa and offering to return it.
• 😀 The art dealers authenticated the painting, leading to Peruggia's arrest by the police who had been closing in on him.
• 😀 Peruggia spent just 7 months in prison before dying 10 years later, but the real story behind the heist remained unknown for decades.
• 😀 In 1932, Karl Decker published a story revealing the elaborate plan behind the heist, orchestrated by art forger Eduardo de Valfierno, who aimed to sell six perfect copies of the Mona Lisa to wealthy Americans.

Q & A

What was the significance of the heat wave in Paris during the heist?

The heat wave created an unusually empty and quiet atmosphere in Paris, which provided the perfect conditions for the thief to carry out the heist without being noticed.

How did the thief manage to enter the Louvre during the night?

The thief blended in as an employee by wearing the Louvre's official white uniform, and he waited inside a storage closet overnight until the museum was almost empty the next morning.

What was unusual about the Mona Lisa's display at the time of the theft?

At the time of the theft, the Mona Lisa did not have its own room and was not nearly as famous as it is today, which made it easier for the thief to access.

Who helped the thief leave the museum with the Mona Lisa?

A plumber working at the Louvre assumed the thief was an employee and helped him open a locked door, allowing the thief to escape with the Mona Lisa.

How long did it take for the museum to realize the Mona Lisa was missing?

It took 28 hours for anyone to realize the Mona Lisa was missing, as the blank space on the wall seemed normal due to ongoing photography work at the museum.

What were some of the false leads during the investigation?

The investigation included several false leads, such as claims that the Mona Lisa was on a freight train through Belgium or on a ship bound for America, as well as accusations against famous figures like Pablo Picasso.

How did the police initially overlook Vincenzo Peruggia as a suspect?

Despite having a criminal record, Peruggia's fingerprints were not matched because the print found on the picture frame was from his left hand, while his prior records only had his right-hand prints.

What led to the thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, finally being caught?

After two years of hiding the Mona Lisa, Peruggia grew impatient and wrote an anonymous letter to an art dealer in Florence, which eventually led to his arrest when he was caught presenting the painting.

What was the role of Eduardo de Valfierno in the heist?

Eduardo de Valfierno, an expert in art forgery, masterminded a plan to sell six perfect copies of the Mona Lisa to unsuspecting millionaires. He contracted Peruggia to steal the original Mona Lisa as part of the scheme.

How did the Mona Lisa's disappearance affect the art world?

The disappearance of the Mona Lisa created a global sensation, sparking a massive international investigation and offering a reward for information, which led to countless false tips and theories.