Destroyed Art in France - Defenders of Art

Coquelicots – Claude Monet – Poster Attack (2024)

On June 1 2024, Riposte Alimentaire activists glued an adhesive poster onto the protective glass of Claude Monet’s Coquelicots at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. The painting itself was not damaged thanks to the glass, but the action interfered with museum operations and required staff to remove the poster immediately. The activist was arrested at the scene.

Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci – Cake Attack (2022)

In 2022, an environmental activist, disguised with a wig and wheelchair, smeared a cake on the protective glass covering Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris. The painting itself remained unharmed thanks to the bulletproof glass, though the surrounding display area was soiled and required immediate cleaning. The attacker was quickly arrested and placed under psychiatric evaluation. The incident briefly disrupted one of the world’s most visited museums and highlighted the vulnerability of iconic cultural heritage to protest actions.

Notre-Dame Cathedral – Fire (2019)

In April 2019, a massive fire broke out at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, causing catastrophic damage. The blaze destroyed the spire, large portions of the roof, and sections of the interior, including centuries-old wooden structures and invaluable artworks. Firefighters managed to save many key elements, but the incident necessitated an extensive restoration project. Although the exact cause of the fire was never definitively identified, investigators determined that it was accidental and linked to human activity associated with the renovation work underway at the time.

Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci - Stone Attack (1956)

In 1956, a visitor at the Louvre Museum in Paris threw a stone at Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The impact chipped the paint on the elbow of the figure, causing minor but noticeable damage. Museum staff immediately secured the painting and later placed it behind protective glass to prevent further incidents. The attacker was apprehended, and the event highlighted the vulnerability of even the world’s most famous masterpieces to acts of vandalism.