The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-12-13
The Greatest Painting in the
World Will be Taken
Back to Paris
STOLEN FROM LOUVRE
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO
Young Italian Says He Took It to
Italy and offered it to His Govern
Patriotism.

FLORENCE, Italy, Dee. 13-Mona
Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci S great paint
ing, which was stolen from the Louvre
In Paris more than two wears ago. has
been found in this city. 1t is now in
the hands of the Italian authorities
and will be returned to France. Mona
| Lisa, or La Joconde, as it is more pop
ularly known, the most celebrated por-
trait OF women ever painted, has
been the object of exhauEtive 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
/ it portrayed-Lisa Del Giocondo. the
| wife OF wealthy Florentine-have
combined to keep alive interest in its
| recovery.
The picture was recovered under
| curious c!rcumst ances An italian wrote
/ 70 Signor Geri, an antiquarv of Flor
/ encC, scme weeks ago, saving: u am
+ in poSsesSaon Of the missing Mona Lisa.
hut being patriotic Italian / desire
that it shall remain in Florence, the
center OF Italian art.
He signed the letter Leonard and
the antiquary ct first paid small at
teution to it, thinking that he had to
30 with a madman Later, however,
he communicated with DR.. Poggi. Iii
reCtore OF the Florentine museums, who
suggested that he continue the CORE
spondenee with the man. This was
done and an appointment was arranged
whereby Gcri was to view the picture
at Milan. The date set was November
IL. but unforeseen circumstances pre-
vented the meeting.
4 young man, fairly well dressed, Wis
tied Geri Thursday. He said he was
Leonard and was staying at the
Hotel TripoH. He asked Geri to 90
with him to see the picture. The deal
er notified Or. Poggi. who FASTENED 70
the hotel. and on being shown the
painting. recognized il as the genuine
Mona Lisa.
DR.. Poggi asked to be allowed to
take the picture with him 50 that he
might compare il with other works
He made an appointment to meet Leon
ard Yesterday afternoon at the hotel
to agree upon the price. The director
) took with him several officers, who ar
rested the man. On being interrogated
the prisoner said his real name was
Vincenzo Perugia. that he was borr
in the province of Como, was by pro
: fession q decorator, and was unmarried
! For six years he lived in France, anc
for three years was employed in th'
Louvre.
; Perugia posed as a patriot. - wa
. ashamed. :. he said, THAT for mor'
: than a century no Italian had though
Of avenging the spoliation committee
by Frenchmen under Napoleon, whel
they carried off from the Italian mu
5 seums and galleries pictures, statue
e and treasures of all kinds by wagon
Q loads, ancient manucripts by thousand
e and gold by sacks.
I He had often observed, he said, i
I the Louvre many works of art stole
from Italy, and conceived the idea o
: returning to its true home Leonard
da Vinci masterpiece. He entere
! the Louvre early in the morning, dc
tached the picture and removed tn
canvas from the frame. He conceale
the frame under the back stairs, wher
it was afterward found. He hid tn
picture beneath his workman S blous
and succeeded in leaving the plac
! without attracting suspicion. At tn
] time of the theft Perugia was not en-
/ ploved in the Louvre, but he knew a
! the exits and entrances and how
/ avoid attention. He kept the paintin
4 in a place of concealment, he sai'
i until his patriotism led him to offer
to the Italian people.