June 3rd, 2009
Vanished Smile
Vanished Smile
The Mysterious Theft of Mona Lisa
by R. A. Scotti
It’s 1911. A hot summer’s day in Paris. The guard at the Louvre is asked where the Mona Lisa is by an avid fan of the painting who is working on a copy. The guard replies that he does not know, perhaps it is being photographed. A few hours later with the painting still missing, panic spreads through the Louvre as it is suddenly realized that the master work of Leonardo da Vinci has been stolen. Pablo Picasso would be questioned in the theft and a friend of his arrested. The Mona Lisa would remain missing for two years and its return would stir controversy and debate.
R. A. Scotti has written a light and fun history of the curious case of the stolen Mona Lisa. This isn’t a deep review of the theft but she covers enough for most people who have some interest. Along the way, she gives us a brief history of the painting including how it ended up in France and how it ended up as an icon and not just another famous painting. Her coverage of the incompetence of the investigation is rather brief but covers the main points. For example, she tells us that the thief was briefly suspected at the beginning of the investigation but his finger prints were never matched against the finger print left at the scene. The author also discusses an alternative theory to the theft that is interesting although rather far-fetched.
If you have a deep interest in the history of the Mona Lisa and her theft then perhaps you need a deeper history. But if you are looking for a quick and enjoyable read about the most famous art theft in history then I can highly recommend this book.
