Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-13
FAMOUS PAINTING STOLEN TWO
YEARS AGO FULLY IpENTl.
FLED At FLORENCE.
FRANCE SENDS MESSENGER
AFTER PRizEp ART TREASURE
Thief Posss 40 italian Patriot and says
Hs stole e Avense Wronss Suffered
by Country at Hands Of Napeison-
Recovered Under Strange cireum-
stances.

Perugia was confirmed by experts aft.
er further examination today.
The picture bears the seals Of the
Louvre and other galleries In which It
has been hung. while traces Of repairs
Of the back Of the canvas known to
have been made are also visible.
The prisoner was again questioned
this morning. He repeated the story
of having stolen the picture az q pa
triotic act, and he declared his treat
ment by the police unjust after the
risk he had run and the abnegation he
had demonstrated.
A number Of prominent italians have
written to the minister Of public In
struction, requesting him to permit
Mona Lisa" to be placed on exhibit
in Florence, its former home. before
being returned to the French govern
ment.
Strangely Recovered.
The picture. called both "Mona
Lisa" and La Joconde." IL the most
celebrated portrait Of a woman ever
painted. It has been the object Of ex.
haustive search in all quarters of the
globe.
The mystery Of its abstraction from
the Louvre, its great intrinsic value
and the strange fascination Of the
smile Of the woman 1t portrayed
model. Lisa del 0iocondo. combined to
keep alive interest in Its recovery.
The painting was recovered under
strange circumstances. An Italian
wrote to Signor Geri, an antiquary OF
Florence, several weeks ago. saying:
II am In possession Of the missing
Mona Lisa but being patriotic 1tal-
ian /. desire thet a sssaaa s. Ietnain 5tn
Florence, the center ok Italian art
The w1iterstgnsd tho letter '.Leon-
ard:s The antiquary at nr1t paid small
attention to the note, thinking he had
to do with q mad man. Later. how
ever, he communicated with DR.. Poggi.
director Of the F1orentine museums.
who suggested that he continue the
correspondence with the man. This
was done and an appointment was ar
ranged whereby Geri was to view tho
picture at Milan.
The date set was Nov. II, but un-
foreseen circumstances prevented the
meeting.
A young man. fairly well dressed.
visited Geri yesterday. He said he was
Leonard" and was staying at tho Hotel
Tripoli. He asked Geri to 60 with him
to see the picture. The dealer notified
DIR. Poggi, who fastened to the hotel,
and on being shown the painting recog-
nized 1t as the genuine "Mona Lisa"
and caused the young mans arrest to-
day.
The prisoner said that his name was
vincenzo Perugia, that he was born in
the province Of Como. was q decorator
and unmarried: For six years he lived
in France and for three was employed
at the Louvre. u.
Perugia posed as q patriot.
II was ashamed" he said, that for
more than a century no Italian had
thought Of avenging the spoilation
committed by Frenchmen under Ma
poleon when they carried away from
the Italian museums and galleries pic
lures. statues and treasures Of all kinds
by wagonloads, ancient manuscripts by
thousands and gold by sacks"
The prisoner said he often observed
in the Louvre many works Of art stol-
en- from Italy and conceived the idea
of returning to its true home Da Vincfs
masterpiece. He entered the Louvre
early one morning, detached the pic
ture, removed the canvas and concealed
the frame. He hid the picture beneath
his workman's blouse and left the place
without attracting suspicion.
not employed in the Louvre, but knew
painting concealed. he saad,- until his
ln<H IN H.. &c. n.