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The Theft of a Generation: The Mona Lisa was stolen

The reason why the Mona Lisa is so famous today (besides the fact that she was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci) is that it was once stolen.

The media coverage and journalistic storm of this theft would remain imprinted in the public's mind for eternity. On 21st August 1911,the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Salon Carréin the Louvre.

The theft was discovered the following day when a painter went into the Louvre to admire the Mona Lisa, and the painting wasn't there.Even Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire were both prime suspects!

The Mona Lisa is found once more

For two years, the painting remained missing.However, in November 1913, an art dealer in Florence was offered an undeniable request.

A man who called himself Leonardo Vincenzo wrote to art dealer Alfredo Geri and offered him the Mona Lisa for 500,000 lire. Geri accepted the offer and Vincenzo travelled by train to Florence, with the Mona Lisa casually stuffed in his bag.

When he arrived in Florence, he took the painting to Geri. The art dealer persuaded him to leave the Mona Lisa overnight and quickly alerted the police. The Mona Lisa had been found once more.

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110

one hundred and ten

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