The speaker discusses the Mona Lisa, a famous work of classical painting, and its impact on the art world. The speaker also delves into the history of the Mona Lisa, how it was stolen from the Louvre in 1911, and the subsequent investigation that followed. The thief, Vincenzo Perugia, was an ordinary worker who had previously worked in the Louvre. He took the painting off the wall, wrapped it in a robe, and calmly left the building without any problems. Perugia was later arrested and admitted to stealing the painting to restore it to its homeland, Italy.
The speaker also explores various theories about the theft of the Mona Lisa, including the idea that a famous fraudster named Eduardo de Vallières was involved. However, this theory is widely dismissed as it lacks credible evidence and contradicts the statement made by de Vallières himself. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the simplicity of Perugia's motives for stealing the Mona Lisa, which were not to sell the painting but to restore it to Italy.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The text is a transcript of a video about how the theft of the Mona Lisa made it the most famous painting in the world.
2. The theft was committed by Vincenzo Perugia, a former worker at the Louvre, who hid in a closet and took the painting off the wall on August 21, 1911.
3. The painting was missing for two years until Perugia tried to sell it to an antique dealer in Florence, Italy, where he was arrested and the painting was recovered.
4. The theft sparked a huge media frenzy and public interest in the painting, which increased its recognition and popularity worldwide.
5. The text also contains an advertisement for a card game called Hearthstone and a giveaway of an iPhone button.
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