Art restitution
Mona Lisa theft and return: a historical account
A Library of Congress historical account describes the theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, its recovery in Italy and return in 1913. The record date is the account’s publication on 22 August 2022, not the theft date. The Louvre independently corroborates the recovery.
Artwork Details & DocumentationIdentification, ownership history and supporting records
Mona Lisa
- Artwork title
- Mona LisaMusée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Maker / attribution
- Leonardo da VinciMusée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Object type
- PaintingMusée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Creation date / period
- 1503–1519 (Louvre dating)Musée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Materials & technique
- Oil on poplar panelMusée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Measurements
- 79.4 × 53.4 cm, without accessories (current Louvre record).Musée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Accession / inventory number
- INV 779; MR 316Musée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Subject
- Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo.Musée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
- Distinguishing features
- An 11 cm split descends from the panel’s upper edge.Musée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked
Not documented in this record: inscriptions & markings.
Documented ownership history
- 1518 (probable)
Probably acquired by François I; the Louvre qualifies this transfer.
Musée du Louvre — INV 779 ↗ · checked - 1793
Only stages supported by the cited sources are shown. This list is not a complete chain of ownership.
Record sources
Identification details follow the Object ID categories where documented. Ownership history is recorded separately; this documentation is not an authentication or a certificate of ownership.
