Two German nationals were detained on September 19 after hanging two of their own paintings on a wall in a Louvre gallery where Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is displayed.
They used adhesive tape to attach the works. French police said only minor damage was found on the wall, while the painting itself was not affected, Le Figaro reports.
The incident occurred at around 3:30 p.m. local time. The men, believed to be in their 30s and 40s, attached two 30-by-40-centimeter canvases to the wall. One depicted one of the artists in armor, while the other showed both men together with a woman.
Museum security staff noticed what was happening and stopped the visitors before calling police. When the paintings were removed, guards discovered minor damage to the wall.
During informal questioning, the men explained that they had done it for entertainment. Following a complaint filed by the Louvre, they are expected to be summoned later for further legal proceedings.
The incident comes amid heightened attention to security at the Louvre. In October 2025, eight French crown jewels were stolen from the museum. Four suspected participants in the robbery were arrested, but the stolen valuables, estimated at around €88 million, have yet to be recovered.
The museum has also faced other problems. Water leaks in November and February damaged several hundred publications from the library of the Department of Egyptian Antiquities, as well as a 19th-century painted ceiling. Against this backdrop, the Louvre is preparing a major renovation project that includes creating a new space for the “Mona Lisa.”
By Jeyhun Aghazada
