On October 19, 2025, thieves disguised as construction workers stole $102 million in French crown jewels from the Louvre, but the article contrasts this with the far more infamous 1911 heist of Leonardo da Vinci's *Mona Lisa*. The 1911 theft was carried out by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman and museum employee who hid in a supply closet, removed the painting's glass casing (which he had installed), and fled with two accomplices via subway. The theft went unnoticed for 28 hours, and the French press sensationalized the story, even accusing figures like J.P. Morgan and Pablo Picasso.
The 1911 heist is significant because it transformed the *Mona Lisa* from a relatively obscure work into one of the most famous paintings in the world. The global media frenzy drew crowds to the Louvre to see the empty space on the wall, and the painting's newfound notoriety made it impossible for Peruggia to sell. When he finally attempted to sell it to an art dealer in Italy two years later, he was caught. The painting's return to Paris cemented its legendary status, illustrating how a dramatic theft can elevate an artwork's cultural and historical importance.