South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-13
FIND MONA LISA"
FAMOUS PAINTING
MISSING z YEARS
Return of Priceless Art Treas
ure to France From Italy is
to Be Made An international
Event.

ROME, Dec. 13.-An international
event Of major Importance will be
made of the return to the French gov
ernment of the priceless art master
piece La JOconde," or Mona Lisa"
as it is also known. The painting.
which was stolen from the Louvre in
Paris and subsequently discovered in
Florence will be returned to the
French government through the am
bassador at Rome and will be ac-
companied by brilliant ceremonies
designed TO cement the friendship of
the two governments.
The thief VincenZo Perugia pro-
badly will be committed to an insane
asylum as a result of irrational state
ments he has made in defense on
himself. Perugia declares he stole
the painting in retaliation for wrongs
committed against Italy by Napoleon.
Two carabineers have been detailed
to watch the painting night and day
until il is formally turned over to the
French authorities.
FLORENCE, Italy, Dec. 1S.-
Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vincps
great painting. which was stolen from
the Louvre, in Paris. more than two
years ago. Has Detu lOuuu. II ID
now in the hands of Italian authori-
ties and will be returned to France.
Mona Lisa, or La Joconde" as it
is more popularity known, the most
celebrated portrait of a woman ever
painted. has been the object of ex-
haustive search in all quarters of the
globe. The mystery Of its abstrac-
ton from the Louvre, its great in
trinsic value and the strange fascina-
ton of the smile of the woman it
portrayed model, Lisa Del Clio
condo, the wife of a wealthy Floren
tine. have combined to keep alive in
terest in its recovery.
The picture was recovered under
curious circumstances. An Italian
wrote to Signor Geri, an antiquary of
Florence, some weeks ago, saying:
I am in possession of the miss
ing Mona Lisa, but being = patriotic
Italian, 1 desire thac it shall remain
in Florence, the center Of Italian
art"
Gets Little Attention.
He signed the letter. Leonard.
and the antiquary at first paid small
attention to it, thinking he had TO do
with a. mad man. Later, however, he
communicated with DR.. Poggi, direc-
tor of the Florentine museums, who
suggested that he continue the cor
respOndence with the man. This was
done and an appointment was ar
ranged whereby Geri was to view the
picture at INLAND. The date set was
Nov. II. but unforeseen circum-
stances prevented the meeting.
A young man, fairly we'll dreSsee
visited Geri Thursday. He said he
was Leonard, and was staying at
the Hotel Tripoli. He asked Geri to
go with him To see the picture. The
dealer notified DIR. Poggi, who has
tened TO the hotel, and on being
shown the painting recognized it as
the genuine Mona Lisa.
DR.. Poggi asked to be allowed TO
take the picture with him so that he
might compare it with other works.
He made an appointment to meet
Leonard Friday afternoon to agree
upon the price. The director took
with him several officers, who placed
the man under arrest
Lived in France
On being interrogated the prisoner
said his real name is Vincenzo Pc
rugia, that he was born in the prov
ince of Como. is by profession a
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