Mona Lisa Vanishes

The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity by Nicholas Day

A century ago, a man walked out of the Louvre with the Mona Lisa. He had previously done contract work at the museum, and had simply hid in the museum after it closed and walked out with the painting. However, people didn't know that. They theorized all sorts of elaborate criminal operations (influenced by popular culture.) Many suspected an art thief (who was alas dead.) American collectors seemed to be likely purchaser. Alas it was much more mundane. The worker held onto it for a while. Then he tried to repatriate to Italy. It eventually made it back to Paris. The Mona Lisa ended up benefiting as the heist made the painting much more famous. The book concisely explores the history of the painting and the crime and the culture that lead to the societal response.