On August 21st, 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from its display in the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. Although, at the time, the Mona Lisa was not considered the most famous piece in the Musée du Louvre, the disappearance of this masterpiece propelled it into stardom. For more than two years, the Mona Lisa remained lost without a trace. In December 1913, the Mona Lisa was discovered when one of the thieves (Vincenzo Perugia) tried to sell the painting in Florence, Italy. Vincenzo Perugia was arrested and the Mona Lisa was seized by the Italian government. However, before returning it to France, the Italian government sent the Mona Lisa on a brief tour throughout Italy. This photograph depicts the display of the Mona Lisa at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy in December 1913. This is the first image in “The Trials, Travels and Thrills of the Mona Lisa“. Following this brief tour, the Mona Lisa was returned to its home at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France.
