Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is probably the most famous painting in existence for a number of reasons. The first is that it’s one of the only still existing paintings from the renaissance master. The second is the technical skill with which da Vinci painted the portrait.
But the third reason is perhaps the most significant. On this day in 1911, the painting was stolen, turning it into an international sensation.
Home to many art treasures, Milan’s Biblioteca Ambrosiana has preserved an extraordinary collection of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings—now showcased in an American exhibition.