What was the profession of Vincenzo Peruggia, the Mona Lisa thief?

Vincenzo Peruggia, the thief who stole the Mona Lisa, worked as a house painter and decorator.

Born in Dumenza, Italy, in 1881, Peruggia learned the trade of painting and decorating before moving to France. In Paris, he found work at the Louvre cleaning and reframing paintings. He also helped fit protective glass cases, giving him useful knowledge of the museum’s displays and the Mona Lisa’s framing.

On 21 August 1911, Peruggia entered the Louvre while it was closed to visitors, removed the painting, and escaped through a service route. He later claimed that Italian patriotism motivated him: he believed Leonardo’s painting belonged in Italy. In reality, Leonardo had taken the Mona Lisa to France, where it eventually entered the royal collection.

Peruggia kept the painting hidden for about two years before attempting to sell it in Florence. He was arrested in December 1913, served a short prison sentence, and was later celebrated by some Italians as a patriot. He continued working as a painter-decorator after the theft.