France

Woman arrested after assaulting Mona Lisa

Article published on the 2009-08-12 Latest update 2009-08-12 14:22 TU

The Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci's most famous work.
(Photo: AFP)

Frustrated after being denied French citizenship, a Russian woman threw a ceramic cup at the Mona Lisa, but did not damage the famed portrait, a spokesperson for the Louvre Museum said Tuesday.

The woman smuggled the cup into the museum in her bag and threw it at the painting on 2 August. She was immediately arrested.

“There was no damage as the cup smashed when it hit the screen protecting the painting,” spokesperson David Madec said.

The woman, who has not been named, was “visibly upset,” and has subsequently undergone psychiatric testing. The woman has since been released, but faces legal action from the museum.

The Mona Lisa, a masterpiece painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is protected by a bulletproof screen and is visited by more than 8.5 million people per year.