PARIS — Two German visitors were arrested at the Louvre after allegedly using adhesive tape to hang two of their own paintings on a wall inside the gallery where Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is displayed, authorities said.
The unusual incident happened on Saturday, September 19, at about 3:30 p.m. local time, according to French police sources cited by AFP and French media.
The two men reportedly placed two paintings measuring about 30 by 40 centimetres on the wall of the Mona Lisa gallery. One depicted one of the men wearing armour, while the second showed the two men alongside a woman.
Museum security officers noticed the unauthorized display, detained the pair and contacted police.
According to police sources, the men told investigators they had carried out the stunt simply “for fun.” The paintings were subsequently removed.
Mona Lisa escapes damage
Despite the incident occurring inside one of the Louvre’s most heavily visited galleries, the Mona Lisa itself was not damaged.
French reports said the only damage discovered was minor damage to the gallery wall caused by the removal of the paintings. The two men were questioned and released, with a later court summons expected if the Louvre formally files a complaint.
The episode is nevertheless likely to attract attention because it comes as the Louvre remains under heightened scrutiny over security following a major jewellery heist at the museum last year.
Louvre still dealing with fallout from major heist
In October 2025, thieves carried out a daylight robbery at the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, stealing eight pieces of French crown jewellery. French authorities have since arrested four suspects, but the stolen items have not been recovered, according to the Reuters report carried by The Straits Times and AFP.
The robbery exposed concerns over the museum’s security arrangements, including its surveillance infrastructure. Reuters also reported that some security weaknesses had previously been identified in a 2019 audit.
The latest incident is vastly different in scale: there was no reported attempt to steal an artwork, and the museum’s most famous painting remained protected behind glass.
Still, the stunt highlights the unusual challenges facing a museum that receives enormous numbers of visitors.
The Louvre welcomed roughly nine million visitors in 2025, according to the reports, contributing to concerns about overcrowding and visitor management.
A museum preparing for major changes
The Louvre is also preparing for a major renovation and reorganisation.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans earlier this year that include creating a dedicated new space for the Mona Lisa and developing a new entrance to the museum. The changes are intended to improve the experience around Leonardo’s famous portrait while addressing the pressures created by massive visitor numbers.
For now, the latest incident has ended without damage to the masterpiece itself.
But what began as two visitors placing their own artwork on a wall has once again put attention on the security and visitor-management challenges surrounding one of the world’s most famous museums.
