Historian Charney tracks the eventful life of the Mona Lisa in this rollicking account. Florentine nobleman Francesco del Giocondo commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to paint a portrait of his wife Lisa in 1503. When the artist died in 1519 France, the still-unfinished painting passed into the hands of his assistant Salai, who sold it to French king François I. Following that exchange, the painting came into the possession of Napoleon, who hung it on his bedroom wall at the Tuilleries Palace. In the early 1800s, it became part of the permanent collection at the Louvre, from where it was stolen in 1911 by Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia, who sought to 'repatriate' the painting to Florence, falsely believing that Napoleon had looted it from his country a century before. (At one point during the ensuing investigation, suspicion fell on Pablo Picasso because he’d bought Iberian statues stolen from the Louvre several years before.) After the Mona Lisa was recovered in 1913 with the help of an Italian gallery owner, French curators hid the artwork in chateaus during WWII, though Charney notes a nearly three-year gap in which its whereabouts are still undocumented. Throughout, Charney succeeds in separating myth and legend from fact as he uncovers the background behind the artwork’s celebrity. The result is both a thrilling tale of true crime and a rigorous work of art history.

Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

After opening with a gripping narration of the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911, Charney proceeds with an excellent chapter on the painting’s history. This portion includes a synopsis of da Vinci’s career and legacy; the author explains how critical reception to the Mona Lisa changed over time, offering valuable perspective on how the theft contributed to the portrait’s place in popular culture.

Kirkus Reviews

In The Thefts of the Mona Lisa, Noah Charney reveals fascinating details about the beguiling masterpiece’s artistic and social history, including its infamous 1911 theft and two years’ absence from the Louvre. The book includes incredible details about museum security before the theft, with objets d’art displayed in a casual way—as if they were in someone’s living room. A century ago, artworks were uncased, unanchored, and unguarded—not safe behind bulletproof glass as the painting is now. Charney next relays how the startling theft was accomplished, reveals the intriguing motives behind the heist, and covers the worldwide media frenzy that followed. An account of how Pablo Picasso and Guillaume Apollinaire were involved in a contemporary art theft from the Louvre layers in even more astonishing details. Charney’s assured, witty prose covers other art thefts too, alongside nerve-wracking accounts of how museum staff safeguarded and moved French art treasures throughout the countryside during World War II, helping the portrait to escape from the Nazis. There’s also consideration of The Mona Lisa “as a prism through which to consider the idea of fame”: Charney notes that The Mona Lisa is a familiar but “invisible icon,” with most knowing little about the subject and never gazing on the enigmatic portrait at length. He remedies this with appealing stories about Leonardo da Vinci’s life, Renaissance beauty standards, and modern techniques, musing on how The Mona Lisa looked when it was freshly painted. And he uses memorable passages about contemporary art crimes—some with violent, organized crime aspects—to dispel common myths about the art world. The Thefts of the Mona Lisa is a thorough, diverting analysis of the Renaissance painting—the world’s most recognizable artwork and visage.

Foreword Reviews

It is ironic that an artist who rarely finished his paintings is responsible for the world’s most famous work of art; Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has captivated viewers since the early 16th century. Charney explores how fascination with the painting has led to crime. The 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous robberies in art history; that it was returned unscathed to the Louvre two years later seems like a miracle. Charney unpacks what drives people toward the Mona Lisa, the details surrounding the 1911 heist, and another mysterious theft of the masterpiece. Before introducing readers to the cast of characters in this thrilling mystery, he discusses Leonardo’s life, how the Mona Lisa came into existence, and how the portrait ‘disappeared’ for a time during World War II, demonstrating that the history of the Mona Lisa is as mysterious as her smile. As an exploration of a famous art heist, Charney’s book does not disappoint. It’s also a succinct but comprehensive study of the Mona Lisa and some of her many secrets.

Library Journal

According to Charney, ‘every year anywhere from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand art objects are reported stolen worldwide.’ Among the most notorious of these crimes is Vincenzo Peruggia’s 1911 theft of Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. This book recounts the story of that crime and delivers a complete portrait of the famous painting, including its role in popular culture. Charney begins by explaining the Mona Lisa’s importance in the history of art. From there he launches into an account of some other early twentieth-century art thefts that preceded Peruggia’s crime, manhunt, and subsequent trial. Deftly separating fact from fiction and cutting through the many myths and misconceptions that have grown around the portrait over the years, Charney answers questions such as: Is the painting a self-portrait? Did the Nazis steal it? A time line, source notes, and a selected bibliography finish off this delicious blend of art history and true crime that will appeal to fans of both.

Booklist

The Thefts of the Mona Lisa reads like a thriller. But this stuff is ALL real. It happened. You’re going to learn all about how and why one of the most famous works of art on the planet has attracted the attention of so many thieves and fanatics.” From the Foreword by New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry

Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author