Vinci Stories · Editorial preview
The Mona Lisa Theft of 1911
How did a stolen painting become an international media event?
- Artist
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Work
- Mona Lisa
- Date
- Early 16th century; theft in 1911
The film
A verified watch link, captions, transcript, approved image credits and video metadata will appear here after release approval.
The theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 changed the story of an already important painting. Its disappearance and recovery illuminate the relationship among cultural institutions, newspapers and fame.
The story behind the work
The story of a missing masterpiece is also a story about the public that follows it.
The scale of press attention should not be confused with the historical importance the painting had before the theft.
The sequence of disappearance, investigation and recovery should be checked against primary sources before publication.
How to look closer
Begin with the work’s place in the museum before turning to the news of its absence.
Reconstruct the chronology from dated records rather than circulating anecdotes.
End with the question of how contemporary audiences discover and remember artworks.
What the editorial team is checking
- Which archival photographs can be reproduced?
- Are claims about specific wall hooks and contemporary headlines sourced?
Know someone who should see this?
Send them the story of Mona Lisa.