Mona Lisa Painting Smeared with Cake by Man Disguised as Elderly Woman in Paris

justjared.com:

The Mona Lisa painting was subject of attempted vandalism over the weekend in Paris. On Sunday (May 29), a man, disguised as an elderly woman wearing a wig, jumped out of a wheelchair and smeared cake over the glass casing of the iconic painting by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, the Louvre Museum confirmed in a statement. Click inside to read more… “A visitor simulated a disability in order to use a wheelchair to approach the work, which was installed in a secure display case.

The Louvre applied its usual procedures for people with reduced mobility, allowing them to admire this major work of art,” a spokesperson for the Louvre shared in a statement with CNN. “While standing near the painting, this individual threw a pastry he had hidden in his personal belongings at the Mona Lisa‘s glass case,” the statement continued. “This act had no effect on the painting, which was not damaged in any way.” The spokesperson also noted that visitors in wheelchairs are allowed to move in front of other guests in order to get a better view of the artwork.

The man, 36, was arrested and taken to a psychiatric infirmary in the police headquarters, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.

An investigation has been opened for “the attempt of damaging a cultural property” and the Louvre has filed a complaint. According to videos shared on Twitter, the man is heard saying in French, “Think of planet Earth, there are people destroying it” and threw rose petals all over the floor before he was escorted out by museum security.