Theft of the Monalisa: Worst Heist of All Time

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The Monalisa

                   "Crime"- perhaps this is the word which grabs more attention than any other news. There are certain legendary antiques in the world which are priceless- the Monalisa is one of them. What made her priceless? Is it her enigmatic smile?  Her identity? Is it because it was painted by Leonardo da Vince? 

                           Whatever maybe the reasons, this famous painting bore stardom after its heist from Louvre(a famous museum in Paris). On 21st August 1911, it was purloined from the walls of Louvre and it was so ludicrous and inconceivable that the theft remained unnoticed till the very next day.

The Crime

                     On Tuesday, 22nd August,1911, when a painter named Louis Beroud visited Louvre and found the very reflective glass panes of paintings at Salon Carre, which were said to be protectives for the paintings. When he observed the place between Correggio's Mystical MArriage and Titan's Allegoryof Alfonso d'Avalos (it was the place where the Monalisa painting was hanged), he found an empty patch decorated with four iron pegs.

When Monalisa was found stolen It was the usual resting place of the painting.

                                           
                    He contacted security and they replied him back that it was with the photographers'. When he turned back there after few hours, he found the same. Then, a brisk search was made and it didn't result Monalisa. They slowly let all the visitors out and a thorough search was done again which made them to contact cops. It was then found that it was stolen and was closed the entire week after the theft to continue the investigation. Images splashed all over the world and rumors spread out like wildfire.

Evidences

                     There was not much evidence found which left the cops boggled. The painting's frame was found near a staircase which gave the impression that the larcenies might have removed the ancient frame and ran away with the painting. There was a strong say-so that it was done by an inside person. Also, the painting was seen by a worker there at 7'o clock in the morning and was found missing at 8:30 A.M. Moreover, the guard working at Salon Carre (a home for patients suffering with Measles) went out to smoke at around 8'o clock which might have given a chance for the burglar. This gave a stalwart endorse that the crime was committed somewhere between 7 and 8:30 in the morning.

                    Usually, Lauvre would be closed on Mondays for cleaning and only museum officials and some photographers would be present at that time. Also, it was said the elevator at the museum was subjected to repair. This made police to presume a home-work. But, in contradiction to that, a finger print was found on the frame which didn't match with any of the museum staff and many criminals. There were 400 rooms and obviously there were no alarms at that time.

Who's Done it?

                   The first suspect Guillaume Apollinaire, a modern art painter was questioned and released. Later, Pablo Picasso turned to be next prominent suspect and was released that he was innocent. The investigation continued like a sloth and 2 years passed. Then, in 1913, when Alfredo Geri, a famous antique dealer gave an advertisement in the newspapers that he would buy any ancient artifact that has a value.

                   A man named Leonardo Vincenzo contacted him a few days later and agreed to sell the painting for a 500,000 lire. He was asked to leave the painting for inspection was arrested on the following day. Vincenzo Peruggia ,(the true name of the thief) was once a worker in Louvre revealed that he took off the painting and hid in his smock and waltzed out. It was as simple as that. His sole purpose was to return the painting to the homeland.     
                               

Vincenzo Peruggia

                   Later, the painting was exhibited all over Italy and swarms of people visited it at Uffizi Gallery in Firenze and Peruggia was released after a brief imprisonment. There are a quite good number of experts who fee that this legendary painting is manipulated and Monalisa had died forever.
                                     

A photograph taken when the Monalisa  was restored to Louvre

                                        
Monalisa-Today


                      Monalisa, today is a diamond in Louvre and attracting around 10 million tourists all over the world like a magnet. Many books and movies had flavor to its eminence which turned many people to riches in an overnight. Now, Louvre is highly secured to prevent any sort of unwanted things and vandalizing.