The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-03-23
FIND OLD MASTER
HANGING IN ACAFE
ON THE EAST SIDE
Experts Identify Ii Fran
cia's Madonna and Child
Stolen in Bologna.
ITALIAN EMBASSY TOLD
Signor Ricci Asked to In
vestigate Circumstances
Of Its Recovery.
CAPT. TOZZI MAKES FIND
Artist and War Hero Believed
to Have Discovered the
Painting.
APT. TOZZI MAKES FIND

signor Rolando Ricci Italian Am.
bassador 10 Washington, has been
asked 70 investigate the circumstances
attending what purports 10 be tins
recovery in this city Of one Of the
most valuable OF ''Old Masters" that
was stolen la 1919 from the walls OF
the famous gallery IN Bologna, Italy.
The painting. according to report
was found in an unpretentious cafe
on the East Side whose conventions
| llabitues had no idea Of the pictures
history or value. IT is asserted to be
one Of the most celebrated OF the
Madonna and Child" panels wrought
by q distinguished Italian artist who
died more than four hundred years
ago. The work Is from the brush OF
Francisco de Marco de Giacomo Raj
holini, who is known to art fame as
II F'rancia." Another Madonna ano
Child" by the same artist is included
in the ]. p. Morgan collection, and
still third hangs in the METROPOLITAN
Museum Of Art.
Though the identity Of the painting
found here with that purioined from the
Bologna gallery has not yet been con-
clusively esta blished, excellent judges
who were perfectly familiar with the
Italian art treasure have pronounced the
New York find none other than the long
lost painting which has been sought in
every city of the world.
One of the experts who so believes is
Capt. Pierre TozZi. war hero and a ia
| nous artist of Italy. who is residing in
the Vanderbilt Hotel and who has taken
a special interest In a movement he
hopes will result in restoration OF the
Like the Mona Lisa
Though the Francia Madonna and
Child" is not exactly. az was the fa-
nous stolen and recovered Mona Lisa, "
a unique art treasure, IL is regarded by
competent critics as belonging in tho
class of those relics OF masters OF an
earlier age that are practically price,
| less. AS in the case Of the Mona
Lisa" there was CONSERVATION when the
Francia panel-it was painted on wood
and not on canvas-was missed from its
| time honored place IN the Bologna gal
1 lery The Italian police never obtained,
/ il Is said. any definite clue concerning
either the thief o. the whereabouts OF
| his loot. though the eyes OF the italian
Government turned toward New York
perhaps because other European an
treasures that had been stolen had been
recovered here.
Diplomatic and consular officers al
| over the civilized world were Informed
! Of the loss and many received photo
graphic copies Of the missing painting
One of these lay upon the desk OF
Romoo Tritoni, Ttaly's Consul General
| to New York. when a reporter for TIE
NEW YORK HERALD called upon him yes
;eriay in the consulate at 20 East
| Twenty street Signor Tritoni
said he had not yet been informed OF
tie recovery of the lost picture and was
deeply interested TO learn the facts.
THAT il was stolen. yes. that all the
world knows" said he. but II It has
been recovered where II It now? I
know nothing about II az all But It is
priceless treasure and should be
delighted to know Of It's recovery" The
| Consul General thereupon displayed his
photograph OF the Francia. which lay
among other papers conspicuously on
| his desk top.
4 despatch received last night from
! Washington said the italian Embassy
, had been Informed OF the discovery and
that. IN the opinion OF It's informant. the
Identification OF the recovered picture
with the stolen one-an Identification
which had been made By experts--was
complete. II was learned at the en-
bassy that the Minister Of Fine Arts in
italy had been notified OF the find. II
was ntimated that the chief question
now was Just how the painting could
best be restored TO its own country. IL
also was suggested at the embassy that
Capt. Pierre Tozzi. who had been the
principal informant Of the Ambassador.
could give all the facts.
Capt. To,zi Tells Embassy.
Capt Tozzi, when he was seen at the
Vanderbilt. where he has a studio, ad-
mitted that he had no doubt the genuine
Francla Madonna had been found. He
declined 70 make public al present any
details Of how where and by whom y
had been found. however. He had placed
all the facts. he said. IN the hands Of
the italian Ambassador. and 70 make
them public here without first having
consulted the Ambassador in the matter.
he thought. would be discourteous and
Improper. with the assent OF the en-
bassy. he added. he would gladly later
tell the story In detail and he intimated
that Il would be an extra ordinary one.
The distinguished italian captain. who
Is both painter and critic himself. Is be-
licved to be the man who first identified
the treasure In IT'S obscure surroundings.
though he would not admit az much last
night. Ono OF the few men whom he
had taken Into his confidence was Bry-
son Burroughs, director OF the depart
ment or paintings Of the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art Capt. Tozzi called on
Mr. Burroughs last Monday and told
him the story. Mr.. Burroughs. it Is un-