The Mona Lisa Caper is based on true events that began to unfold on Monday, August 21, 1911, when Vincenzo Perugia shocked the world by stealing the most famous of the many treasures in the Louvre.

Though Vincenzo was a thief, he meant well. He simply wanted to return the painting to the Italian people in the mistaken belief that it had been stolen from them. Eventually, inevitably, Vincenzo was captured in Florence and put on trial. Italians gave him their hearts for his patriotism. In fact, he received so much food, wine, clothing, and furniture, that he had to be moved to a larger cell!

Throughout Rick Jacobson’s lively text, Mona Lisa herself narrates the story of her trip back to the city of her creation. The playful art Rick has painted along with his wife, Laura Fernandez, heightens the fun. Not only is it Keystone-Cops funny, it is a sound introduction to the painting that continues to delight, amaze, and mystify hundreds of years after Leonardo da Vinci’s death.
© Terry Jacobson
Rick Jacobson has authored three children’s books, and with Laura Fernandez, has illustrated seventeen children’s books. Together they have won awards for their work in advertising and publishing including the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award and numerous national and international awards including the Toronto Art Directors’ Awards, Communication Arts Magazine’s Award of Excellence, American Illustration Award of Excellence, and the New York Art Directors’ Award of Excellence. He has been featured in Smithsonian magazine and in The Artist’s Magazine. His commissioned portraits include Margaret Atwood, Robertson Davies, Christopher Ondaatje, and David Thomson. He is currently working on a show of his landscape paintings. He lives in Toronto, Canada, with his family. View titles by Rick Jacobson
© Rick Jacobson
Award-winning illustrator Laura Fernandez was born in Spain, and immigrated to Canada as a young child. With Rick Jacobson she is co-owner of Jacobson Fernandez Illustration and Design Inc. The illustration team has won many awards for their work in advertising and publishing, including the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award, and numerous national and international awards. Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson have illustrated over seventeen published children’s books. Laura Fernandez is also a songwriter, performer, and recording artist as well as a New York International Independent Music Festival Award-winner. She resides in Toronto, with her family. View titles by Laura Fernandez

About

The Mona Lisa Caper is based on true events that began to unfold on Monday, August 21, 1911, when Vincenzo Perugia shocked the world by stealing the most famous of the many treasures in the Louvre.

Though Vincenzo was a thief, he meant well. He simply wanted to return the painting to the Italian people in the mistaken belief that it had been stolen from them. Eventually, inevitably, Vincenzo was captured in Florence and put on trial. Italians gave him their hearts for his patriotism. In fact, he received so much food, wine, clothing, and furniture, that he had to be moved to a larger cell!

Throughout Rick Jacobson’s lively text, Mona Lisa herself narrates the story of her trip back to the city of her creation. The playful art Rick has painted along with his wife, Laura Fernandez, heightens the fun. Not only is it Keystone-Cops funny, it is a sound introduction to the painting that continues to delight, amaze, and mystify hundreds of years after Leonardo da Vinci’s death.

Author

© Terry Jacobson
Rick Jacobson has authored three children’s books, and with Laura Fernandez, has illustrated seventeen children’s books. Together they have won awards for their work in advertising and publishing including the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award and numerous national and international awards including the Toronto Art Directors’ Awards, Communication Arts Magazine’s Award of Excellence, American Illustration Award of Excellence, and the New York Art Directors’ Award of Excellence. He has been featured in Smithsonian magazine and in The Artist’s Magazine. His commissioned portraits include Margaret Atwood, Robertson Davies, Christopher Ondaatje, and David Thomson. He is currently working on a show of his landscape paintings. He lives in Toronto, Canada, with his family. View titles by Rick Jacobson
© Rick Jacobson
Award-winning illustrator Laura Fernandez was born in Spain, and immigrated to Canada as a young child. With Rick Jacobson she is co-owner of Jacobson Fernandez Illustration and Design Inc. The illustration team has won many awards for their work in advertising and publishing, including the Ruth Schwartz Award, the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award, and numerous national and international awards. Laura Fernandez and Rick Jacobson have illustrated over seventeen published children’s books. Laura Fernandez is also a songwriter, performer, and recording artist as well as a New York International Independent Music Festival Award-winner. She resides in Toronto, with her family. View titles by Laura Fernandez

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