Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa was always revered but never more than after its notorious theft from the Louvre. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, worked as a handyman at the museum. On Aug. 21, 1911, he wrapped the painting in a blanket and walked out of the museum during the early morning. It's hard to believe, but the theft wasn't discovered for several hours. The painting was missing for two years before its return to the museum.
New-york
United-states
Italy
Paris
France-general
France
Russia
Russian
Mona-lisa
Vincenzo-peruggia
Vinci-mona-lisa
Jonathan-santlofer
IndieBound The real-life theft of Leonardo da Vinciâs
Mona Lisa from the Louvre on Aug. 21, 1911, by workman Vincenzo Peruggia provides the backdrop for this outstanding caper from Nero Award winner Santlofer (
Anatomy of Fear). In 2019, Luke Perrone, a nontenured university professor of art history and Vincenzoâs descendant, searches the Laurentian library in Florence, Italy, for his great-grandfatherâs journal in the hope of determining whether the stolen
Mona Lisa was replaced by a forgery before its recovery in 1913, and thus ensuring his academic position. John Washington Smith, an ambitious analyst from Interpolâs Art Theft Division, and the mysterious Alexandra Greene join Luke in his effort, and the trio are soon contending with nefarious scholars, forgers, stalkers, a Franciscan monk, and a Russian hit man as the bodies pile up. Details of Florence, Paris, and New York City enhance the twisty plot, as does the insider view of the underground w
New-york
United-states
Italy
Paris
France-general
France
Russia
Russian
Mona-lisa
Vincenzo-peruggia
Vinci-mona-lisa
Jonathan-santlofer