Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City

Mona Lisa painting smeared with cake in Louvre

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 May 2022 16:35
  • 4 Shares
2 Min Read

Calling on artists to think about Earth, a man in a woman's wig jumps out of a wheelchair and smears the Mona Lisa with cake.

  • x
  • Mona Lisa painting smeared with cake in Louvre
    Mona Lisa painting smeared with cake in Louvre

The Mona Lisa - yes, da Vinci's renowned masterpiece - was smeared with cake at the weekend by a man in a woman's wig who jumped out of a wheelchair and said artists should focus more on the planet.

Officials at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where the portrait is placed, declined to comment on Monday on the incident, which was captured on several phones and posted on social media on Sunday.

The treasured piece by Leonardo da Vinci, which has been the target of vandalism attempts in the past, was unharmed thanks to its protective bulletproof glass case.

A Twitter user, identified as 'Lukeee', posted a video showing a museum employee wiping the smeared cake off the glass.

Maybe this is just nuts to me💀but an man dressed as an old lady jumps out of a wheel chair and attempted to smash the bullet proof glass of the Mona Lisa. Then proceeds to smear cake on the glass, and throws roses everywhere all before being tackled by security. 😂??? pic.twitter.com/OFXdx9eWcM

— Lukeee🧃 (@lukeXC2002) May 29, 2022

Related News

Trump and Xi hold successful talks in Busan, push to end trade war

Trump’s weak dollar strategy risks global fallout: Forbes

Speaking French, the man said: "There are people who are destroying the Earth... All artists, think about the Earth. That's why I did this. Think of the planet." 

Can anybody translate what ole dude was saying as they where escorting him out?😂 pic.twitter.com/Uy2taZ4ZMm

— Lukeee🧃 (@lukeXC2002) May 29, 2022

A target of vandalism attempts in the past

The Mona Lisa - one of the world's most famous and expensive paintings - has been behind glass since a Bolivian man threw a rock at the painting in December 1956. In the same year, the painting's lower part was severely damaged after a vandal soaked it with sulphuric acid.

When the Mona Lisa was displayed in the Tokyo National Museum in 1974, a disabled woman who was upset by the museum’s inaccessibility attempted to spray the painting.

In 2005, it was placed in a reinforced case that also controls temperature and humidity. In 2009, a Russian woman threw an empty teacup at the painting, which slightly scratched the case.

The most famous Mona Lisa-related incident happened in 1911 when Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia stole the painting from the Louvre. Originally hired by the museum to make protective glass cases for famous artwork, Peruggia hid in a closet at the museum and stole the Mona Lisa overnight.

After two years, Peruggia was arrested and sentenced to seven months in jail.

  • Japan
  • Paris
  • Mona Lisa
  • Italy
  • Louvre
  • France
  • Tokyo
  • Leonardo da Vinci

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Displaced Sudanese who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rest near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region (AP)
Politics

UAE directly funded RSF, leading to fall of El-Fasher: Sudan

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests
Politics

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests

This photo released by the Israeli military on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, shows ground operations inside the Gaza Strip (AP)
Politics

IOF soldier who fought in Gaza, Lebanon denied entry to Czech Republic

UN inquiry exposes 'Israel’s' four genocidal crimes against Gaza
Politics

'Israel' committed four genocidal acts in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS