A timeline of attacks on the Mona Lisa

The painting has survived much worse than smeared cake.

The Mona Lisa.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

Don't let that smile fool you — the Mona Lisa has seen some things. After a visitor attempted to smash its protective glass last week, the painting and its wild history of attempted vandalism and theft is back in the spotlight. Here's everything you need to know:

What happened to the Mona Lisa last week?

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.