The iconic Mona Lisa painting was the subject of a not-so-sweet surprise at the Louvre Museum on Sunday when a man disguised as an elderly woman threw a piece of cake into the glass enclosure that protected the priceless work of art.
The man, who is seen in several videos on social media capturing the incident, arrived at the museum in a wheelchair, black wig and lipstick. His identity is unknown.
Among the crowd of enthusiastic spectators in the gallery, the man tossed the dessert into Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, leaving a white, creamy stain on the glass.
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When the author was filmed being escorted from the museum for safety, he explained to the gallery his environmental motive. “Think of the Earth. There are people who are destroying the Earth, “he said. “Think about it. Artists tell you, think about the Earth. That’s why I did it.”
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Security was then filmed cleaning the Mona Lisa’s protective glass cream. The 16th century work of art was unharmed.
According to The Associated Press, the man was also seen throwing roses in the museum’s gallery.
The Louvre Museum has not yet made a public statement about the incident.
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This is not the first time that the Mona Lisa has been the victim of an attack.
In 1911, the painting was stolen by a museum employee and an Italian nationalist who carried out the robbery by hiding in a broom closet until the Louvre Museum closed. The thief took the painting out of the premises, hidden in the shelter.
In the 1950s, the painting of the Mona Lisa was the victim of an acid attack. The paint was partially damaged and has since been left behind in the glass.
Back in 2009, a woman threw a cup of tea into the paint, even though it hit the glass and the artwork was unharmed.
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