The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-24
Priceless "Monna Lisa" Said
to Be Missing from
the Louvre.
HIGH OFFICIAL IS ACCUSED
PARIS PAPER ASSERTS THE PoR.
TRAIT 10 NOW IN THE POSSES.
SION OF A MYSTERIOUS NEW
YORK COLLECTOR.

Paris, July 23.-The Cdi de Paris
states that Leonardo da Vinci's mas.
terpiece. Norma Lisa" the most fam.
GUS portrait In the world. was stolen
from the Louvre one night aDout a
month ago. through the completely of
q high ofiicial of the museum.
A copy Of the painting was put In
place OF the original the report states
and the genuine painting is now in
New York.
The paper says n New York million
aire whose initials are J. X. w. has
the original.
REPORT sriRs NEW WORKERS.
New York. July 23.-In local art cir
cles the announcement Of the reported
theft OF "Monna Lisa" was received
with great interest, but without as
much surprise as might have been ex-
pected.
The conccnsus Of opinion was, in
view Of similar thefts that have been
committed at the Louvre and consid.
ering the value and charm Of Da Vinci
or later by collector of unlimited
means was not ut all improbable.
No news of such theft had reached
New York before the arrival of today's
cable. however. and none OF the i'm
portant dealers or art collectors on
this side of the water could shed any
light upon the identity of u. X. W."
A canvass OF art collectors who
might come under the category o.:
New York failed to reveal one whose
initials even remotely correspond with
the ones mentioned In the dispatch
from Paris.
Painting 10 Priceless.
Da vinci's portrait Of "Monna Lisa"
also called la Joconde" or "Giacon-
da." In European art circles Is consid-
cred to rank second in value only to
the Sistine Madonna" by Raphael.
Both are Priceless.
II Ia matter OF gossip although no
Official verification Of the rumor ever
has been given that the British gov
crnment offered $5.OOOOO for "Monna
Lisa" and that the offer was refused.
The most striking feature Of the por.
trait IL the mysterious smile that turks
In the eyes and lips Of the subject. 1t
took Da Vinci five years to bring out
this peculiar expression and at the
time declared the work unfinished.
The task II painting "Monna Lisa
was difhcult and painstaking in the ex-
IRENE. Da vinci found that his model
woman, assumed Q peculiar express
sion only when at ease in certain
posture. and when listening to a GER
tain strain Of music. At other times
this expression was lacking. The
painter thus was able to work only
walls. In this way Ave years were con.
sumed.
"Most Perfect Work OF Art"
DIR. Arthur Mailer in Paintings OF
the Louvre" calls "Monna Lisa 1.-THE
most perfect work OF art ever pro-
duced."
THE fascination and charm of the
portrait still remain" he writes. de
spite the fact that light tints of the
skin and brightness have disappeared
and the underlying grain coating is
visible. Let him. says Vaseri. who
wishes to know to what degree art
can initiate nature. contemplate this
picture. It's rather a divine work than
the work OF man.
THAT which strikes us Is the mobil
ity In an apparently immobile ngure
Mona Lisa Is seated in low chair. on
the left arm Of which she leans and
lightly rests an arm, her long. mar.
row eyes seem on the point OF langor
ously closing; the corners of he:
mouth are little raised and there Is
a mysterious and indescribable smile
The hands are incomparably nodded
and one may almost feel their warmth
and velvety softness.
ia vinci was the first artist able
In . painting to render the texture and
suppleness Of the skin.
much has been said and writer
concerning 'Monna Lisa but no one
has fathomed all the enigmas OF this
sphinxlike face"
Walter Patsr on "Menna lisa"
Walter Pater In "The Renaissance. :
says Of this "Monna Lisa"
THE presence that thus rose s,
strangely beside the waters Is express
I've OF what In the ways Of a thousans
years men have come to desire. Her.!
Ia head upon which all the ends o.
the world have come and the eyelid.
- . little weary. II Is beaut,
Usought out from within the fies.,
- deposit. little cell by cell. o
orange thoughts with fantastic rev
cries and exquisite passions.
"All the thoughts and experience!
Of the world have been etched ant
moulded there in that which they hav,
Of power to refine and make expressive,