Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-23
G|AC0NDA IS STOLEN
Second Most Valuable Paint
ing Gone From Louvre.
MAY BE NOW IN new YORK
High Official Reported to Have Con-
nived at Theft.
MOST PERFECT WORK OF ART"
American Millionaire Reported to
Have Acquired da Vinci's
Masterpiece.
MAY BE NOW IN new YORK
MOST PERFECT WORK OF ART"

PARIS, July 23.-The Cri de Paris states
that Leonardo da Vincis 'Giaconda" was
stolen from the Louvre one night about
month ago through the completely of
high Official Of the museum.
A copy of the painting was put in the
place of the original, which is now in
New York.
The paper says that a New York mil
lionaire collector, whose initials are j.
K. w. W." has the original.
New York Not Surprised.
NEW YORK, July 23.-In local art cir
cles the announcement of the reported
theft of the Mona Lisa was received with
great interest but without as much sur
prise as might have been expected
The consensus of opinion was that in
view of similar thefts that have been
made from the Louvre, and considering
the value and charm of da Vincfs great
painting, its acquisition sooner or later
BY q collector of unlimited means was
not at all improbable.
No news OF such q theft had reached
New York before the arrival of yester-
davis cable, however, and none of the
important dealers or art collectors on
this side of the water could shed any
light upon the possible identity of j.
X w. W."
A canvass of art collectors who might
come under the category Of New York
millionaires'' failed to reveal one whose
initials even remotely corresponded with
the ones mentioned in the cable from
Paris.
Picture of Great Value.
Leonardo da vincis portrait of Mona
Lisa" also called La Joconda" or
"Giaconda,' is one of the worlds famous
C,r circles IL Is
considered to rank second only to the
"Sistine Madonna" by Raphael. Both
are priceless.
1t is a matter. of gossip. though no Of
fetal verification of the rumor has ever
been given, that the British government
offered q million pounds Tor La Jocoh-
da," and that the offer was refused
The most striking feature OF the por-
trait is the mysterious smile that turks
in the eyes and lips of the subject IL
took da Vinci five years to bring out
this peculiar expression and at the END
of that time he declared the WORK ~ NC
still unfinished
The task of painting La Joconda
was diffcult and painstaking in the ex-
IRENE Da Vinci found his model,
woman. assumed the peculiar expression
which he wanted to depict only when at
ease in q certain posture, anu when
listening to certain strain OF music.
At other times this expression was lack
ing.
for brief periods and at infrequent In
tervals. in order that the effect of the
music upon his model should not wear
Off. In this way FIVE years were con-
sumed.
"Most Perfect Work Of Art"
DR.. Arthur Mailer, in his Paintings o.
the Louvre" calls Mona Lisa the most
perfect work of art ever produced.
The fascination and charm of the por-
| trait still remain" he writes, despite the
fact that light lines of the skin and the
brightness have disappeared and the I'M
DERIVING gray coating is visible.
Let him. says vasari, who wishes to
know to what degree art can initiate ma
ture, contemplate this picture 1t is
rather divine work than the work OF
| man. That which strikes US is the mo-
bility in the apparently immobile figure.
Mona Lisa is seated in a low chair,
on the left arm Of which she leans and
| lightly rests an arm: her long, narrow
eyes seem on the point of dangerously
closing: the corners OF the mouth are
little raised, and there is a mysterious
and INDISPENSABLE smile on the face,
THE hands are incomparably nodded,
and one may almost feel their warmth
and softness Leonardo was the f1is
artist who was able, in painting to rem
der the texture and suppleness OF the
skin.
| "A stone back balustrade separates the
figures from the landscape, ana serves 10
Incline n toward at the same time leav-
| ing it connected with the background.
Many and deep are the distances which
we see in these blue mountains, and 1t Is
a landscape of fantastic dreamland iar
hevond our reach, for the little bridge
is to indicate distance and seems to lead
to other worlds"
Wonderful Creation"
Much has been said and written con-
corning the Mona Lisa" but no one has
fathomed all the enigmas of this sphinx
like face Walter Pater in THE Renais-