The Sentinel=record., 1911-08-23
LA JOCONDO .
 IS STOLEN
FAMOUS FIVE MILLION DOLLAR ART TREASURE IS MISSING
 FROM LOUVRE.
Was One of the Most Valuable ana Celebrated of Worlds Paint. ings-No Clue is Left to
 identify the Thief.

Paris, Aug. 22.--The art world was thrown into consternation today by the announcement that Leonardo l D. Vincrs masterpiece Mona Lisa,' or, as it is popularly known, La Joconde, has mysteriously disappear. ed from the Louvre.
 The famous painting hung in the jplace of honor in the Salon Carre and not clew was left by the person or persons whs took it.. A search Of every nook and cranny of the Louvre only brought to light the valuable frame in which the picture hung and the glass that covered it. These were intact on bank staircase.
 | Some persons there are who believe a practical joke has been played, but nevertheless. the government has set to work it's entire force of detectives in an effort to recover the painting. Mona Lisa" is one of Frances lgreatest art treasures, ranking with the sculptures Venus de Milo" and the Victory of Samothrace." end Murillo's painting. The Immaculate Conception.
 The only parallel in the history Of art thefts is the case of Gainsbor- oug'h's famous Duchess of Devon share," which was taken from i;s frame in the show room of an art firm in London some years ago, but later returned by the late Pat Shee- dy. we'll known American gambler, who acted as intermediary 5etwee en the thief and the art dealers. Later this picture was purchased by J. P. Morgan.
 The painting was not missed until noon today when visitors to the nus cum, among whom were hundreds ot Americans, were quietly informed that the gallery was about to be clos ed for the day and requested to leave. After that no one was admitted.
 The remarkable feature of the case is that the picture appears 10 have been taken early yesterday morning without its absence having been re marked until noon today. Two ma sons who passed through the Salon Carre at 7:30 a. m.. yesterday, say that they saw Mona Lisa.' An hour afterwards an attendant says he no- ticed the picture was mysing put be- lieved it had been removed by one of the photographers, who have the privilege of taking pictures Tn the Louvre. On the other hand, an- other official believes he saw the painting at 800 o'clock yesterday af. ternoon. There is scaffold against the facade of the building used ia the installation of an elevator. By this scaffold 1t would be easy to enter and leave tine building and a pa,son acquainted with the interior and provided with keys to the various rooms could easily reach the Salon Carre.
 The first searehers for the painting have proved fruitless, the under sec retary of state for fine arts mas lode ed charge of theft against n person or persons unknown, with the mi:ns- ter of justice. who has appointed q magistrate to open an investigation
 Just a year and month ago to day the Echo De Paris announced that Mona Lisa" had been stolen from the Louvre through the com plicity of an official and that q copy had been taken to New York and sold to an American collector This report was repeatedly denied.
 Mona Lisa' is one of the worlds famous paintings and is held Trice ] less. At one time 1t had been stat ed the British government offered five million dollars for the work , which was refused. It is the most celebrated portrait of female in the world. It's most striking charac teristic Is the smile. Da vinci's tno del was the wife of Francesca tel ] Gicondo. Florent;ne of the Fifteenth sixteenth Centuries. When De V.ncl painted her. she was about 30 years ] old. The subject is shown s9ated In low chair, on the left arm of which she is leaning. The gown is simple. Dark hair hanging loosely drapes an open face with an express Isive eye and aquiline nose. Ahont