In 1911, the famous painting Mona Lisa, created by Leonardo da Vinci, was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The thief, an Italian handyman named Vincenzo Peruggia, believed the artwork belonged in Italy and planned to return it to its homeland. He hid the painting in his apartment for over two years. The theft was discovered when Peruggia attempted to sell the Mona Lisa to an art dealer in Florence. Authorities arrested him, and the painting was returned to the Louvre in 1913. The incident increased the painting's fame, making it one of the most recognized artworks in the world.