The ‘Mona Lisa’ has been caked in attempted vandalism stunt

The “Mona Lisa” was the topic of tried vandalism on Sunday when a customer to the world-famous Louvre museum in Paris smeared frosting everywhere in the Renaissance-era portray’s protecting glass.

The person, who appeared to put on a wig in movies of the incident shared on social media, approached the portray in a wheelchair earlier than throwing a chunk of cake on the art work, in accordance with an announcement from the Louvre. Movies of the aftermath present him on foot with a wheelchair close by.

“A customer simulated a incapacity to be able to use a wheelchair to method the work, which was put in in a safe show case. The Louvre utilized its ordinary procedures for folks with lowered mobility, permitting them to admire this main murals,” the assertion famous.

“Whereas standing close to the portray, this particular person threw a pastry he had hidden in his private belongings on the Mona Lisa’s glass case. This act had no impact on the portray, which was not broken in any means.”

A spokesperson clarified that guests in wheelchairs are allowed to maneuver in entrance of different museum-goers to raised see the work.

The person, 36, was arrested and brought to a psychiatric infirmary within the police headquarters, in accordance with the Paris prosecutor’s workplace. An investigation has been opened by the prosecutor for “the try of damaging a cultural property.” The Louvre has filed a grievance.

One other video of the scene exhibits a employees member cleansing the icing from the glass.

Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, arguably essentially the most well-known portray on the earth, attracts thousands and thousands of holiday makers every year who line as much as pose with the small art work, which is simply over 2.5 ft tall and beneath 2 ft large.

The enigmatic portrait is not any stranger to each vandalism and thievery. It was stolen in 1911 by a Louvre worker, elevating its worldwide profile, and the underside of the canvas suffered an acid assault within the Nineteen Fifties, main the museum to beef up protecting measures surrounding the work — together with the bulletproof glass. In 2009, a lady angrily threw a ceramic cup on the portray, breaking the cup however leaving the portray unhurt.

This text has been up to date with an announcement from the Louvre.