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Why is the Mona Lisa kept behind bulletproof glass at the Louvre Museum?
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Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, 1503–19; in the Louvre, Paris.
The Mona Lisa is kept behind bulletproof glass at the Louvre Museum to protect the painting from acts of vandalism and physical damage.1
The museum installed the bulletproof case following several attacks in 1956, one of which caused damage to the area near the subject’s left elbow. This protective measure has successfully shielded the artwork from subsequent incidents, including:1
- A 1974 attempt to vandalize the painting during its visit to Tokyo.1
- A 2009 incident in which a museumgoer threw a ceramic mug at it.1
- Protests in the 2020s involving individuals throwing substances such as cake and soup at the display.1
By housing the portrait in this reinforced case, the museum ensures the preservation of the Mona Lisa against further intentional harm.1