FRANCE: AN ARMED ESCORT AND A FIRST CLASS CABIN FOR THE MONA LISA.

Record ID: 923414

  • Title: FRANCE: AN ARMED ESCORT AND A FIRST CLASS CABIN FOR THE MONA LISA.
  • Date: 14th December 1962
  • Summary: 1. TGV CONVOY AND ESCORT INTO DOCKS. 0.07 2. SV ARMOURED VAN PULLS UP ALONGSIDE POLICEMEN. 0.12 3. ANGLE V... PAN... "FRANCE" IN DOCK. 0.18 4. SV CRATE CONTAINING MONA LISA IS TAKEN FROM VAN. 0.22 5. SV CRATE WHEELED INTO BUILDING. 0.31 6. STV INT. CRATE WHEELED TOWARDS CUSTOMS. 0.39 7. SV POLICE AND PRESSMEN OUTSIDE C
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2016 20:14
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LE HAVRE, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA2Y5NIMEM3L8JIAPKRLIG7C20D
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: THE MONA LISA, THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS PAINTING IS ON ITS WAY FROM FRANCE TO AMERICA. LEONARDO DA VINCI'S 459-YEAR-OLD MASTERPIECE LEFT PARIS AT DAWN TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR LE HAVRE THROUGH SECURITY CLEARED ROADS IN A BULLET PROOF VAN AND WITH AN ARMED ESCORT OF NINE CARS AND TWO MOTORCYCLE POLICEMEN.

    FIFTY RIOT POLICE SEALED OFF THE HARBOUR BUT THE MONA LISA ATTRACTED ALMOST AS MUCH ATTENTION IN HER FIRE-PROOF, SHOCK-PROOF, WATER-PROOF, BURGLAR-PROOF AND UNSINKABLE ALUMINUM CASE AS WHEN HANGING IN THE LOUVRE MUSEUM. AFTER SPEEDED-UP CUSTOMS FORMALITIES, THE PRECIOUS CASES - ONE FOR THE PICTURE AND ONE FOR THE FRAME, WERE LOADED ON A SPECIAL TROLLEY WITH RUBBER SHOCK-PROOF WHEELS AND PUSHED CAREFULLY UP THE GANGWAY OF THE LUXURY LINER, FRANCE.

    ONE THING FOR THE GUARDS TO THINK ABOUT AS THEY WATCH THE MONA LISA'S CABIN EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY AND NIGHT - SHE'S WORTH MORE THAN GBP30 MILLION - THE PRICE IT COST TO BUILD THE FRANCE THAT'S CARRYING HER TO AMERICA WHERE THE PAINTING WILL BE EXHIBITED FOR THREE WEEKS. RUMOURS THAT THE PAINTING WAS INSURED FOR GBP40 MILLION ENDED TODAY, WHEN M. JEAN CHATELAIN, DIRECTOR OF MUSEUMS, SAID THAT INSURANCE FOR THAT AMOUNT WOULD HAVE COST GBP18 MILLION. "WE PREFER TO SPEND MONEY ON ENSURING THE SECURITY OF THE PAINTING", HE SAID. THE PAINTING IS, HOWEVER, INSURED AGAINST DETERIORATION. THE LACK OF FULL COVERAGE IS ALSO REGARDED AS A DETERRENT TO SHOULD-BE THIEVES WHO MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO BLACKMAIL THE INSURERS.

    FOR HER SEA VOYAGE THE MONA LISA IS IN A FIRST CLASS CABIN WITH A "DO NOT DISTURB" NOTICE OUTSIDE AND A SPECIAL FRAMEWORK INSIDE TO HOLD HER STEADY DURING THE VOYAGE. THE CABIN IS ALSO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LINER LEAST AFFECTED BY THE PITCHING AND ROLLING OF THE VESSEL.

    MANY PROMINENT ART CRITICS FIERCELY OPPOSED LETTING THE PAINTING LEAVE THE LOUVRE, MAINTAINING THAT THE CHANGE OF TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY COULD DAMAGE THE POPLAR WOOD PANELS ON WHICH IT IS PAINTED.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register