A stunning art heist occurred at the Louvre in Paris on the morning of October 19, 2025, when a group of audacious thieves executed a bold robbery in just four minutes. This theft happened while the museum was open to the public, and the stolen items included a range of exquisite jewelry that once belonged to French royalty, such as an emerald necklace and earrings that Napoleon gifted to his second wife, Maria Luisa, for their wedding.
The incident raises serious questions about how masked individuals managed to bypass the museum”s security and abscond with invaluable artifacts from one of the world”s most prestigious art institutions. The Louvre has a notorious history of thefts, despite being constructed to safeguard the nation”s cultural heritage following a violent revolution.
Although the palace dates back to the 13th century, the Louvre museum was established during the French Revolution, a period marked by a passion for both egalitarian museums and new political systems. In 1792, revolutionary insurgents stormed the royal residences of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, proclaiming the republic. Consequently, the entire art collection of the monarchy was seized by the new state and faced threats from looters intent on eradicating any vestige of the French monarchy.
The Louvre was intended to protect state assets amid the chaos of revolution and to showcase the most treasured artifacts of the newly formed democratic France. However, the museum”s cultural relics have long proved irresistible to art thieves, leading to a persistent array of security issues and thefts throughout the years.
Notorious Thefts in Museum History
Among the most infamous incidents is the robbery of the Mona Lisa in 1911. At that time, the painting, which was relatively unknown, was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant who had briefly worked at the museum. Disguised in his former work uniform, he entered the Louvre unnoticed. The painting was hanging in the Salon Carré but was often removed for conservation or photography, so its absence went unnoticed for over 24 hours after Peruggia exited the museum with it concealed under his coat.
The theft only came to light when a wealthy patron arrived to view the painting. All that remained of the Mona Lisa were the hooks that had held it in place. The subsequent search for the stolen artwork was extensive yet ultimately fruitless, as noted by historian Aaron Freundschuh in a 2006 article in the journal Urban History.
Interestingly, the investigation briefly involved a young Pablo Picasso, who was questioned due to his connections to an earlier Louvre theft involving stolen Iberian statue heads. In 1913, the Mona Lisa was recovered when Peruggia attempted to sell it to another museum, revealing he had hidden it in his Paris apartment. He claimed his motives were patriotic, although the painting had been completed in France and acquired by King Francis I in 1518. Ironically, the theft increased the painting”s fame, turning the Mona Lisa into a household name.
Security Challenges During Nazi Occupation
The Nazi occupation of France in 1940 threatened significant cultural losses, as portions of the Louvre“s collection were pillaged by occupying forces. However, Jacques Jaujard, the museum”s director, devised a plan. Before Paris fell to the Nazis, he managed to transport over 1,800 crates of valuable artworks to safety in the countryside. Most of the museum”s treasures survived the war, and when the Nazis entered Paris, they found a largely empty museum.
Nevertheless, high-ranking Nazis seized several masterpieces, including “The Immaculate Conception” by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, which was sent to fascist Spain in a 1941 exchange. Additionally, numerous artworks belonging to French citizens that were on display in the Louvre were plundered.
Ongoing Security Issues and Recovery Efforts
Post-World War II, security issues continued to plague the Louvre. In 1966, a significant theft of ancient jewelry occurred while they were being returned to France after a loan to a museum in Virginia. Fortunately, the jewelry was eventually recovered in New York. A series of daylight art thefts persisted, including the theft of a Flemish painting in January 1976 and a jeweled sword belonging to King Charles X of France later that year, which remains missing.
In 1990, thieves stole a small Renoir painting and a dozen pieces of ancient Roman jewelry in broad daylight. The following years saw additional thefts, including the disappearance of a Camille Corot painting in 1998, which has yet to be found. The Louvre has since sought to enhance its security in response to widespread criticism, undergoing a recent security audit.
As for the stolen Napoleonic jewelry, only one item—a broken emerald and diamond tiara once gifted to Empress Eugenie by Napoleon III—has been recovered. The fate of the remaining treasures, which include jewelry worn by various French queens and empresses, remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the Louvre“s long history of audacious thefts and discussions on how to protect France”s national treasures appear set to continue.
