Britannica AI Icon

Vincenzo Peruggia

Italian decorator

Quick Summary

Vincenzo Peruggia was an Italian decorator who gained notoriety for stealing the Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1911. He had previously worked at the Louvre, fitting glass for paintings, including the Mona Lisa. Peruggia hid in a closet overnight and removed the painting the following morning. He was apprehended two years later in Florence when he attempted to sell the stolen artwork. Peruggia was imprisoned for his crime, and the Mona Lisa was eventually returned to the Louvre.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.