THIEF AS ART CRITIC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1279, 1 August 1914, Page 4

THIEF AS ART CRITIC.

MAN WHO STOLE “LA GIOCONDA.” Vincenzo Peruggia, who attained notoriety by stealing the famous “La. Gioconda” from liie Louvre, was put on trial at Florence. The prisoner’s face was wroai lied m smiles aa he underwent the presiding judge's crow-examination. When asked to explain his action, Pornggia said that while ho was employed as a decorator at the Louvre his French comrade* coiled him “dirty Italian macaroni,” stole his hat and painter’s tools, and played him all sorts of tricks, such as putting pepper and salt in his wine. “1 studied the history of the grand nuuaterpioces. with which i was continually in contact,” he continued, “and learned that ail tlie celebrated Italian picture® hanging there had been stolen from Italy. I determined to restore at least one of them to its rightful owners, the 1 Lilian people. “Walking in one morning 1 leisurely unhooked the Mona Lissa. released her from the massive frame, ami then quietly left the buiiding with her under my arm by the self same door aa I had entered.” Peruggia avowed his preference for “La Gioconda” because he deemed Leonardo da Vinci a greater genius than Raphael or Correggio, whose works hung hard by. Ho strenuously denied having tried to sell the stolen masterpiece in ixmdon. Had his object been to make money he could have taken advantage of the lucrative oilers made iu Franco itself, where the illustrated daily paper Excelsior was offering a £2OOO reward for the recovery ot u La Gioconclu.’ *

ile admitted writing to his parents, expressing hopes of making a fortune; but said it was the art dealer, Gerri, who hud originated the suggestion that £20,000 could be squeezed out ot the Italian Government, and the proceeds shared between himself. Signor Corn, and Commendatory Poggi, director of the State Art Galleries at Florence.

The last named, in evidence, stated that Per uggia readily granted him permission to remove the picture from his garret to the Uflizzi Gallery offices for a closer inspection, and did not oven require a receipt for the loan. At no time had he ever suggested a sale price or hinted at personal remuneration for the transactions conducted by Signor Gerri.