Art is full of drama, mystery and surprises, and not just on the canvas. Here are seven fun facts about famous artists and masterpieces that might change how you see them.
1. The Mona Lisa Was Once Stolen: In 1911, a museum worker named Vincenzo Peruggia walked out of the Louvre with the painting. It was missing for over two years, and the theft helped make it the most famous painting in the world.
2. Michelangelo Didn't Paint Lying Down: Despite the popular image, he painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling standing on scaffolding he designed, craning his neck upward for about four years.
3. The Statue of Liberty Used to Be Copper-Colored: Lady Liberty was a shiny reddish-brown when she arrived. Weather slowly turned her copper skin the famous green we know today.
4. There's More Than One "Scream": Edvard Munch made several versions of his iconic work, including paintings, pastels and prints.
5. Van Gogh Barely Sold Any Art in His Lifetime: He's often said to have sold only one painting while alive. Today his works sell for tens of millions of dollars.
6. A Banksy Shredded Itself at Auction: In 2018, moments after "Girl with Balloon" sold at Sotheby's in London, a hidden shredder in the frame sliced it partway through. The piece was renamed "Love Is in the Bin."
7. Bob Ross Painted Thousands of Pieces: The happy-little-trees legend is said to have created around 30,000 paintings over his career.
Feeling inspired? Maybe it's time to grab a brush and make some happy little accidents of your own!