MONA LISA RETURNS TO PARIS

After the Mona Lisa was recovered in Florence, she traveled to Rome where she was officially handed over to the French ambassador.

Courtesy of L'Illustration

After being exhibited for several days in Rome, she traveled to Milan for a one-day showing.

Courtesy of Eileen White

On the afternoon of Tuesday, December 30, 1913, the famous painting left Milan for Paris with the director and curator of the Louvre  and several Italian officials aboard the train keeping guard. 

On WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1913  at 3 am, the telegram below was sent to the Undersecretary of Fine Arts in Paris that the Mona Lisa was at the French-Italian border. Italian customs allowed the painting to pass the border duty free.

Courtesy of Archives Nationales, Paris

  

At 3 am,  the Prefecture of Police in Paris received the message below: the Mona Lisa was to arrive at the Gare de Lyon at 2:40 pm.

 Courtesy of Archives of the Prefecture of Police museum

That afternoon, fifty police detectives and a score of silk-hatted government officials met the special train bearing Leonardo's great painting from Italy.

Courtesy of Eileen White

The New York Times reported that when the train drew into the station, Eugene Pujalet, Director of National Museums, took the box and carried it to a waiting automobile amid the flash of photographers.

Courtesy of  Eileen White

 Courtesy of L'Illustration

The Mona Lisa was taken to the National School of Fine Arts to the office of the director where it was authenticated. All but the officials were barred and with great ceremony the Italian government's seals were removed and Mona Lisa was restored to the old frame from which Vincenzo Peruggia had removed the painting when he stole it in 1911.

Mona Lisa was afterward carried to the hall of honor in the school. There was a private showing of the picture to newspaper men and high officials. The picture was placed on exhibition and an admission fee charged and the money obtained to be distributed among the Italian poor in Paris in “recognition of Italy’s part in the recovery of the masterpiece.”

Courtesy of Excelsior

The same postcard as above -- with the subtle addition of the Eiffel Tower and banners in French.