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Iconic painting the "Mona Lisa" is recovered two years after it was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris

The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.

The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, [and] the most parodied work of art in the world." The painting's novel qualities include the subject's enigmatic expression, monumentality of the composition, the subtle modelling of forms, and the atmospheric illusionism.

The painting has been traditionally considered to depict the Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo. It is painted in oil on a white poplar panel. Leonardo never gave the painting to the Giocondo family.

Historical Significance

The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.

Events Before

  1. First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

    First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

  2. Kim Philby is born

    Kim Philby, British intelligence officer and soviet double agent, known for british intelligence officer and soviet double agent, was born on 1912-01-01.

  3. Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture to the

    Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture to the Geological Association at the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt

  4. Chiefs, representatives of people's and church organizations, and other prominent individuals form the African National

    Chiefs, representatives of people's and church organizations, and other prominent individuals form the African National Congress and declare its aim to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms

  5. Captain Robert Scott's expedition arrives at the South Pole, one month after Roald Amundsen

    The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is a United States scientific research station at the South Pole of the Earth.

Events After

  1. Kornelis "Klaas" ter Laan becomes the Netherlands' first socialist mayor in Zaandam

    Kornelis "Klaas" ter Laan becomes the Netherlands' first socialist mayor in Zaandam

  2. Danish "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen (28), pen name Isak Dinesen marries her 2nd cousin Baron Hans von Blixen-Fine

    Danish "Out of Africa" author Karen Blixen (28), pen name Isak Dinesen marries her 2nd cousin Baron Hans von Blixen-Finecke

  3. "The Squaw Man," the first feature-length film shot in Hollywood, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel, is relea

    "The Squaw Man," the first feature-length film shot in Hollywood, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel, is released in the US

  4. First successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels

    First successful non-direct blood transfusion is performed by Dr. Albert Hustin in Brussels

  5. Film serial "The Perils of Pauline" is shown for the first time in Los Angeles, California

    Film serial "The Perils of Pauline" is shown for the first time in Los Angeles, California

More from the 1910s

birth

Hank Greenberg is born

Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10

The US Post Office begins parcel post delivery

The Bronx General Post Office (also known as the Bronx Central Post Office or Bronx Central Annex) is a historic post office building at 558 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx in New York City, New…

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 11, 1913?
The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci. Considered an archetypal masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance, it has been described as "the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, [and] the most parodied work of art in the world." The painting's novel qualities include the subject's enigmatic expression, monumentality of the composition, the subtle modelling of forms, and the atmospheric illusionism. The painting has been traditionally considered to depict the Italian noblewoman Lisa del Giocondo.
Why is Iconic painting the "Mona Lisa" is recovered two years after it was stolen fr... significant?
The Mona Lisa is a half-length portrait painting by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.

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December 11 in HistoryYear 1913