Mumbai: HistoryTV18 is set to bring audiences the fascinating story behind one of the most sensational crimes in art history with History’s Greatest Mysteries: The Theft Of The Monalisa: Case Closed, premiering on Friday, June 19 at 9 PM. Hosted by Oscar and Golden Globe nominee and six-time Emmy winner Laurence Fishburne, the special explores the mystery surrounding the theft that transformed Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa into a global cultural phenomenon.
The special revisits the dramatic events of 1911, when the world’s most recognisable painting disappeared from the walls of the Louvre Museum in Paris, sparking international intrigue and an unprecedented investigation.
The story begins on an August morning when artist Louis Béroud arrived at the Louvre intending to sketch the famous portrait, only to discover an empty space where the masterpiece once hung. What followed was widespread panic, mounting public fascination, and an intensive investigation led by Paris Police chief Louis Lépine.
As authorities searched for answers, speculation intensified around multiple suspects. Theories ranged from a museum insider and professional thieves to wealthy collectors and even prominent figures from the art world. Notable names including Guillaume Apollinaire, Pablo Picasso, and J.P. Morgan found themselves linked to public speculation as the mystery deepened.
History’s Greatest Mysteries: The Theft Of The Monalisa: Case Closed examines the twists and turns that defined the two-year pursuit to recover the stolen artwork. Through expert commentary, dramatic storytelling, and historical analysis, the special uncovers how the investigation unfolded and reveals the events that ultimately led to the case being solved.
The programme also explores how the theft itself elevated the Mona Lisa from an admired Renaissance masterpiece into perhaps the most famous painting in the world.
Blending history, suspense, and compelling storytelling, the special offers viewers a closer look at the crime that continues to captivate audiences more than a century later.
Watch History’s Greatest Mysteries: The Theft Of The Monalisa: Case Closed, premiering Friday, June 19 at 9 PM, only on HistoryTV18.
