New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-13
lBy Cable to The TRIBUNE. =

tBy Cable to The TribuneI'
Milan. Dec 12.-The police have
ascertained that Vincenzo Perugia. who
IL charged with the theft of the Clio
cOnGa. WAS in the service Of a well
known firm Of picture cleaners and re-
storcrs in Paris. the very firm. in fact
flat had the contract for cleaning the
Louvre pictures.
From remarks the man dropped the
police have formed the theory that he
was engaged in cleaning or touching
up the picture when it occurred to him
to take it away with him.
Paris. Dec. l2.-The finding OF Mona
Lisa has been so often announced, only
TO be contradicted, that the news was
at first received with scepticism, but
Ambassador Barrere's dispatch from
Rome 10 the French Ministry Of Public
instruction. though brief. was explicit,
and the names OF the eminent Italian
experts mentioned seemed a sufficient
guarantee that it was the original paint
INK tnat nd1 Deen IOuHu.
The Florence dealer. Geri it Is believed.
will be entitled TO claim rewards amount
ing TO 10000 francs $500, offered BY
the Society OF Friends OF the Louvre and
the Paris newspapers.
Rome. Dec l2-All Rome rejoices at the
finding OF Mona Lisa" King Victor EN-
10. In
formed.
The Papal Secretary OF State, Cardinal
Merry del VAL conveyed the information
10 Pope Plus y. The Pontiff said: Il
am very happy that such a priceless
treasure after all, is not lost 10 the world
and to the French nation
The disappearance of Leonardo da
Vincis masterpiece. called variously
Mona Lisa La Joconde" and La
Gioconda" has been a mystery in the art
world since August p, 1911.
when IT was announced that the ia
nous painting had been removed from
the Louvre Gallery there was world-wid e
CONSERVATION. and since then there has
been no end of speculation as 10 its
whereabouts.
The Under Secretary OF state for Fine
Arts. VI. Dujardin- Beaumetz, was bitter
IL attacked In the French Chembe. OF
DEPUTIES In connection with the theft
of the picture. Deputies declared that
the theft was the result Of a state OF
anarchy. dsorga nization ard Jealousies
existing IN the Louvre. Theophile Ho-
., 1
placed after the picture vas stolen, but
the Deputies who attacked NJ. DuJardin-
Beaumetz declared that he rather than
Homolle should have been put out.
The criticism so worked upon the feel
ings OF Dujardin- BeaumeU that U was
not long before he resigned from the
ministry, and he died last september a
broken hearted man. He had been the
friend OF young artists I'm particular. out
h!s popularity waned after he was cou'-
pe,Ied to withdraw from the BeauX Arts.
There was never satisfactory eNpld-
nation Of the manner in which the picture
was taken. -: one time II was sdli that
the picture was probably on its way TO
America. 4 little over year g IL was
said that the picture had found is way
L, Russia and was in a private collection
there. but nothing further was 'earneu
OF il.
I'm August. 1912, IL was reported that a
man who had called at the British En-
bassv in Paris said that he had oeeh
commissioned to restore the painting TO
IN. Iouyre lie went away, and never
came back.
The disappearance Of the picture serNeu
IN make the civilized world familiar with
It's history, for within short time ai'e'
the Mona Lisa" had been stolen repro
auctions of the painting were to be seen
I'm shop windows in most every city In the
world
The Mona Lisa" was painted by Leo
ardo da Ninci, about the year 100. Ills
model was Lisa del Giocondo. woman
NJ Florence. 1t is said that the British
government offered 100000 for the pict
ure The picture was bought for France
by King Francis /.
Leonardo da Vinci was born at vino!
near Florence, in 1852, and died near Am
| bolse I'm 1919 lie was of the Florentln.
school and pupil of Andrea del We
rocchlo. with whom he was associated as
| late at li76 lie was appointed cour'
palnter and director OF the newly found
cd Academy of Arts, manager of all fete'
in which art played conspicuous par
and manager OF all enterprises In which
knowledge OF engineering, hydraulics anc
general science was necessary.
He was many sided man. as great
scu,ptor az he was painter, and one OF
the foremost engineers OF his day.
The Vernon family, of Newport, have
picture that is strikingy like the Mona
| lisa" and since it was given to one OF
their ancestors by Marie Antoinette they
helieye that II not replica by Leonardo
himself. it is at least a remarkably good
| copy.