Finance
Louvre Museum's Denon gallery damaged by water leak, Mona Lisa unaffected
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 13, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 13, 2026
Quick Summary
A water leak in the Louvre's Denon gallery damaged some artworks, but the Mona Lisa was unaffected. This marks the second leak in three months.
Water Leak Damages Louvre's Denon Gallery, Mona Lisa Remains Safe
Incident Overview
PARIS, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The Louvre museum's Denon gallery, where its most valuable paintings are displayed, was hit by a water leak on Thursday evening, though the area of the famous Da Vinci's Mona Lisa was unaffected, a union representative told Reuters on Friday.
Details of the Leak
"Due to a technical failure on the upper floor during the night, the area is closed to the public and a scaffolding has been set up," the representative said.
A spokesperson for the museum had no immediate comment on the incident.
The leak happened in the room 707, where paintings from 19th century French artist Charles Meynier and 16th century Italian artist Bernardino Luini are displayed. No evaluation of possible damage was available as of Friday at noon, the union representative said.
Recent Challenges Faced by the Louvre
The water leak is the second in less than three months in a museum that has gone through a spate of recent setbacks - including a spectacular jewel heist, strikes and a massive ticket fraud investigation- that have put its management under intense scrutiny.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten)
Key Takeaways
- •A water leak occurred in the Louvre's Denon gallery.
- •The Mona Lisa was not affected by the leak.
- •Paintings by Meynier and Luini may be damaged.
- •This is the second leak in three months at the Louvre.
- •The Louvre has faced several recent challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions about Louvre Museum's Denon gallery damaged by water leak, Mona Lisa unaffected
1What is a water leak?
A water leak is an unintended escape of water from a pipe or fixture, which can cause damage to property and require repairs.
2What is a museum gallery?
A museum gallery is a space within a museum where artworks or artifacts are displayed for public viewing.
3What is risk management?
Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling threats to an organization's capital and earnings.
