She’s the most famous face in art history—but in 1911, the Mona Lisa vanished from the Louvre without a trace. In this episode of Once Upon a Crime, Ben Beaumont unpacks the audacious theft that turned a Renaissance portrait into a global icon.
Was it an inside job? A patriotic heist? Or just one man’s obsession with a smile?
We follow the trail from Paris to Florence, through false leads, media frenzy, and a suspect who kept the painting under his bed for two years. Along the way, we explore how a stolen masterpiece became a symbol of mystery, myth, and modern celebrity.
🔍 Art. Crime. Legacy. This isn’t just a whodunnit—it’s a why-it-still-matters.