STOLE
'MONA LISA' TO AVENGE ITALY
Italian Workingman
Resented Art Spoliation by the First Napoleon.
ITS RETURN TO FRANCE
TO BE WITH CEREMONY
Art Dealer Through
Whom Painting Was Recovered May Get Reward of $48,000.
FLORENCE, Italy. December 13.-The authenticity
of the "Mona Lisa" found yesterday in possession of Vincenzo Perugia
was confirmed by experts after further examination today.
The picture bears the seals of the Louvre and
other galleries in which it has been hung; while the traces of repairs at the
back of the canvas also are visible. The prisoner was again interrogated by the
police authorities this morning. He repeated his story of having stolen the
picture as an act of patriotic vengeance for Napoleon's depredations in Italy.
He displayed the utmost indignation at his treatment by the police, declaring
it unjust after the risks he had run and the abnegation he had demonstrated out
of patriotic sentiment.
A number of prominent Italians have written to
the Italian minister of public instruction requesting him to permit "'Mona
Lisa" to be placed on exhibition in Florence, its former home, before
returning it to the French government.
Some weeks ago an Italian wrote to Signor Geri,
an antiquary of Florence, saying: "I am in possession of the missing 'Mona
Lisa," but being a patriotic Italian I desire that it shall remain in
Florence, the center of Italian art."
He signed the letter "Leonard," and the
antiquary at first paid small attention to it thinking he had to do with a madman.
Later, however, he communicated with Dr. Poggi, director of the Florentine
museums, who suggested that he continue the correspondence with the man. This
was done, and an appointment was arranged whereby Geri was to view the picture
at Milan. The date set was November 17, but unforeseen circumstances prevented
the meeting.
Recognizes "Mona
Lisa."
A young man fairly well dressed, visited Geri
Thursday. He said he was "Leonard" and was staying at the Hotel
Tripoli. He asked Geri to go with him to see the picture. The dealer notified
Dr. Poggi. who hastened to the hotel, and on being shown the painting
recogii'zed it as the genuine "Mona Lisa."
Dr. Poggi asked to be allowed to take the
picture with him, so that he might compare it with other works. He made an appointment
to meet "Leonard" yesterday afternoon at the hotel, to agree upon the
price. The director took with him several officers, who placed the man under
arrest.
On being interrogated the prisoner said his real
name is Vincenzo Perugia, that he was born in the province of Como, is by
profession a decorator, and is unmarried. For six years he lived in France, and
for three years was employed at the Louvre.
Perugia posed as a patriot. "I was
ashamed." he said, "that for more than a century no Italian had
thought of avenging the spoliation committed by Frenchmen under Napoleon, when
they carried off from the Italian museums and galleries pictures, statues and
treasures of all kinds by wagonloads. ancient manuscripts by thousands, and
gold by sacks.”
Stolen Early in
Morning.
He had often observed, he said, in the Louvre
many works of art stolen from Italy, and conceived the idea of returning to its
true home Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. He entered the Louvre early in the
morning, detached the picture and removed the painting from the frame. He
concealed the frame under the back stairs, where it was afterward found. He hid
the picture beneath his workman's blouse, and succeeded in leaving the place
without attracting suspicion.
At the time of the theft Perugia was not
employed in the Louvre, but he knew all the exits and entrances, and how to
avoid attention. He kept the painting concealed, he said, until his patriotism
led him to offer it to the Italian people.
The picture was identified by Dr. Corrado
Rieci, director general of the department of fine arts, who was dispatched
hurriedly to Florence from Rome by the minister of public instruction, Luigi
Credaro.
Government Acts
Promptly.
News of the discovery of "Mona Lisa" spread
in the chamber of deputies, in session at Rome, where extremist members were
engaged in fisticuffs in an endeavour to prevent a vote on the election of a nationalist
deputy for Rome. The disorded ceased immediately. The deputies surrounded the
minister of public instruction, who exhibited a telegram from Dr. Ricci confirming
the statement he had already made by telephone.
All laughed at the defense of the thief. Some
of them remarked that Napoleon's deeds were too antiquated to constitute
grounds for feuds. If it were not so, Italy would quarrel with the whole world,
as all countries had stolen masterpieces from her, not excluding the United
States The famous Ascoli cope, stolen from the cathedral at Ascoli, which was
returned by J. P. Morgan, was cited, however, as an instance of American
generosity.
Senor Credaro announced that Italy would apply
the same generosity, as he had immediately notified the French ambassador,
Camille Barrere, of the discovery of the painting. He added:
Pomp to Mark Return.
'Mona Lisa' will be delivered to the ambassador
with a solemnity worthy Leonardo da Vinci and a spirit of hapiness worthy of
'Mona Lisa's smile. Although the masterpiece is dear to all Italians as one of
the best productions of the genius of their race. we will willingly return it
to its foster country, which hat regretted its loss so bitterly, as a fresh pledge
of friendship and brotherhood between the two great Latin nations." ,
Strangely enough, the painting is in an almost
perfect state of preservation, notwithstanding the vicissitudes it must have
undergone.
The French ambassador expressed his thanks to the
Italian premier, Signor Giolitti: the foreign minister. Marquis di San
Giuliano, and the minister of public instructon Signor Credaro for the notifcations
he had received regarding details of the recovery of the picture. He said that
the French government and the French people would feel the deepest gratitude
for the promptitude of the Italian government and its generosity in desiring to
return the masterpiece to the Louvre.
Finger Prints Confirm
Confession.
PARIS, December 13. -Rene Viviani, French
minister of public instruction, announced at the cabinet council today that
there was no doubt the picture "Mona Lisa" had been recovered and was
now at Florence, Italy. He said he had telegraphed to the Italian premier thanking
him and the Italian government for their prompt action.
A representative of the fine arts department is
on the way to Rome to bring the picture back to Paris.
Fresh proof that "Mona Lisa ' was taken from
the Louvre by Vincenzo Perugia was established today when his finger prints
taken when he was convicted some time ago of carrying firearms without a permit
were compared with those on the frame and glass of the picture and found
exactly similar. The finger prints on the glass and frame were preserved by the
police and the similarity with those of Perugia is apparent.
Excitement in Paris.
With ' Mona Lisa" found what was one of
the unfathomable mysteries has been solved. The sensation caused by its recovery
was equaled only by that caused by its disappearance in August 1911.
Special editions of the newspapers carried the
news the length and breadth of Paris, and last night it was the sole topic of
conversation.
The Florence dealer, Geri. it is believed, will
be entitled to claim rewards amounting to 240.000 francs ($48.000) offered by
the Society of Friends of the Louvre and Paris newspapers.
Regarded as Priceless.
"Mona Lisa," or "La
Joconde," is one of the world's famous paintings, and regarded as
priceless. Leonardo da Vinci took as his model for the picture Lisa del Glocondo.
a woman of Florence. He worked on the picture for four years, from 1500 to 1504.
It was bought for France by Francis I. The value
of the work can only be imagined since all offers to buy it were refused among
them one reported to have been made by the British government of
$5,000,000.
The famous painting had hung in the place of honor
in the Louvre in a room which was supposed to be always watched. It disappeared
on the morning of August 22, 1911, and its absence was not noticed by its
guardians until some hours later.
Image from The Omaha Sunday 1914 February 15th
A quickly explanation in:
https://steemkr.com/art/@nunitanice/the-day-that-the-mona-lisa-was-stolen
https://steemkr.com/art/@nunitanice/the-day-that-the-mona-lisa-was-stolen
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