Britain will not have ‘Mona Lisa'

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33032, 27 September 1972, Page 15

Britain will not have ‘Mona Lisa'

(Ti Z P.A.'Reuter—-Copyright) PARIS, September 26. France has rejected a British request for the loan for an exhibition of two of her most precious art treasures, Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ and the Bayeux Tapestry.

The request was made through official Government channels, with a view to including the treasures in the proposed festival to celebrate; Britain’s entry into the Common Market next January. But a senior French Foreign Ministry’ official said today: “There is no question of sending the ‘Mona Lisa’ to London. We shall certainly not send an Italian masterpiece to represent France . . . •La Joconde’ will not leave the Louvre. “As for the Bayeux Tapestry, it is in a very poor condition. and could not stand a Channel crossing.” The French are, however, offering alternative art masterpieces, and intricate nego-| tiations are now in full swing to decide which works should be allowed to leave France for the “Fanfare for Europe”

“France has such a vasti treasure of her own paintings! that we should have no diffi-i culty in satisfying the wishes: of our British friends," the offiical said. The “Mona Lisa” has left' only once since it was ac-j quired by the Louvre: it was sent for exhibition in New York and Washington in 1963, where it was seen by millions of Americans. Gene-' ral de Gaulle’s Minister ofi Cultural Affairs, Mr Andre Malraux, overrode all opposition. and personally saw to it that the Mona Lisa went on loan for three months to the United States. Apart from the risk of damage in shipping such unique works of art — the Venus de Milo was slightly chipped when it went on loan to Japan a few vears ago — French experts say that there is no point in displaying a world-famous art work in isoThe last attempt to send the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain, to mark the Battle of

• | Hastings anniversary in 1966 I — also ended in failure.