Two German citizens were detained after hanging two paintings in the Mona Lisa room at the Louvre Museum

Two German citizens were detained on Saturday after hanging two paintings in the Louvre Museum room where the famous Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is displayed. The incident took place at around 3:30 p.m., and the works caused only minor damage to a wall. The Mona Lisa was not affected.

The two paintings, measuring approximately 30 by 40 centimeters, depicted one of the men dressed in armor, and the two suspects alongside a woman, respectively. The museum’s security service stopped them and alerted the police.

During a voluntary interview, the two said they had installed the works “as a joke.” They are to be summoned at a later date after representatives of the Louvre Museum file a complaint. The incident has once again drawn attention to security problems at the world’s most visited museum.

In October 2025, a commando stole eight French Crown jewels from the Apollo Gallery. The items, estimated to be worth 88 million euros, have not been recovered. The museum has also reported damage caused by water infiltration, while authorities are preparing a major renovation project, including a new room for the Mona Lisa.