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Mona Lisa Under Attack! Vandal Attempts to Destroy Iconic Painting at the Louvre to Protest for the Protection of the Environment
Mona Lisa Under Attack! Vandal Attempts to Destroy Iconic Painting at the Louvre to Protest for the Protection of the Environment
Someone thinks that Leonardo da Vinci isn't done with his Mona Lisa painting yet. Although this masterpiece of da Vinci is arguably the best painting in the world, it's no exception to vandalism.
Mona Lisa Was Attacked. Source: 7News.com.au
This incident left the Mona Lisa painting vandalised with smeared frosting all over it.
Luckily, the glass protecting the Mona Lisa is too strong to be broken, said a witness of the incident. Supposedly, the man first attempted to break the glass before the cake splashed cream all over the glass casing. I mean, who tries to break glass with cake?
'A visitor simulated a disability in order to use a wheelchair to approach the work, which was installed in a secure display case,' the statement noted.
'While standing near the painting, this individual threw a pastry he had hidden in his personal belongings at the Mona Lisa's glass case.'
The good news is that the Mona Lisa was 'not damaged' in any way, and the act had no effect on the painting, according to the museum.
The man took advantage of the prioritisation of persons in a wheelchair as they were allowed to get to the closest distance to the Mona Lisa.
The man was then immediately escorted out by the security of the museum. The cake-thrower was then identified as a 36-year-old Frenchman. He was heard delivering a message in French, 'Think of planet Earth; people are destroying it.'
Staff cleaned the smeared glass that's protecting the Mona Lisa. Source: 7News,com.au
The Louvre (the museum which is home to the Mona Lisa) has filed a complaint, and the prosecutor's office has opened an investigation for the 'attempt of damaging a cultural property.'
Another video shows a staff member cleaning the icing from the glass after the incident.
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is arguably the most famous painting globally. It records millions of visitors every year to line up under the 75cm tall and 60cm wide picture.
However, this well-known masterpiece of da Vinci is no stranger anymore to vandalism and thievery.
In 1911, an Italian handyman stole Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa off the wall. He hid the painting under his smock as he waltzed out of the Louvre. The picture was missing for two years until it was found and recovered in 1913.
In 2009, a Russian woman threw a ceramic at the Mona Lisa, frustrated at failing to acquire French nationality.
This famous painting, considering the incidents, is believed to be a promising avenue for people to air out their thoughts and frustrations to protest actions concerning societal issues.
While there is no doubt that we need to work together to help our planet and protect our environment, we can’t help but question whether the message can be delivered in a way that doesn’t involve hurting something, or someone else in the process? A cake doesn’t need to be thrown at the Mona Lisa for us to take action, does it?
What do you think about the attack? Do you think it got the message across, even though it’s a bit of a bizarre way to go about it? Let us know in the comment section below!
