The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-13
MONA LISA STOLEN
FROM LOUVRE IS
RETURNED
Young Man Tried To Sell Fam
Gus Picture
HAD IT FOR TWO YEARS
Young Italian Said He Thought
Painting Should Be Owned in
Italy

Florence, ltaly, Zee. L. Nohd
Lisa Leonardo Ia Vinci's great
painting which was stolen from the
Louvre in Paris more than two years
ago, has been found 1t is now in the
hands Of the Italian authorities and
viii be returned to France.
Mona Lisa, or La Joconde, as
il is also popularity known, The most
celebrated portrait Of woman ever
painted has been the object OF TX
haustlve search in all quarters Of
the globe. The mystery of its ab-
straction from the Louvre its great
intrinsic value and the strange fasci-
naticn of the smile OF tho woman it
portrays-a model Lisa Del Giocon-
do. the wife OF a wealthy Florentne
have combined 20 keep alive inter.
est in It's recovery.
The picture WAS recovered under
curious circumstances.
An Italian wrote to SignOr Ger.
an antiquarian of Florence, some
weeks ago. saying:
~ ana in possession of the missing
Mona Lisa, but being a patriotic ital-
ian ! desire that il shall remain m
Florence. the center OF Italian ART
He signed the letter Leonard"
and the antiquarian al first paid
small attention TO it, thinking taat
he had 10 do with mad man. lat
err. however. he communicated With
Or. Poggi, director of the Floren inc
museums, who suggested that he con
tinuc the correspondence with the
man. This was done and an appoint
ment was arranged whereby Gcr
was to view the picture at Milan.
The date set was November II, but
unforeseen circumstances prevented
the meeting.
y young man. fairly well dressed.
visited Geri yesterday ,He said ne
was Leonard" and was staying nj
the Totel Tripoli He asked Gerl 10
20 with him to sec the picture The
dealer notified DR. Poggi. who has
tened to the hotel. and on being
shown the painting recognized ID as
the genuine Mona Lisa
Or. Pcggi asked to be allowed TO
take the picture With him so that he
might compare It with other works.
llo made an appointment to 10 .et
Leonard" this afternoon an the no.
tel TO agree upon the price. The d.
rector took with him several OH, sr,
who placed the man under arrest.
On being intcrogated. the pri IN.
cr said his real name was Ninccpzo
Ferugia, that he was born In inc
province or Como. was by profes ion
a decorator, and was unmarried. For
six years he lived in France and for
three years was employed al me
Louvre.
Porugia posed as patriot. ~
was ashamed he said. that ior
moro than a century no Italian had
thought OF ayenging the spolia,iop
committed by Frenchmen under ia.
poleon. when they carried off from
the Italian museums and gailer.es.
pictures. statutes and treasures of
all kinds by wagon loads. anc.en,
manuscripts by thousands and gold
by sacks"
Tie had often observed. hc said. m
the Louvre many works OF arr stolen
from Italy aud conceived the ides of
returning TO las true home Leonard
Da Vinci's masterpiece.
He entered the Louvre earn ian
'he morniug detached The pictare
ana removed thc painting from .ac
frame. lie concealed the frame sn.
Ger the back stairs. where 70 after.
wards was found He hid the bic.
lure beneath his worlmau's blouse
ana succeeded In leaving the place
without attracting suspicion
The picture viii be returned
promptly 20 Paris.