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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1950-April 1951

ARCH.2003.31, Rendition: 804147

Mistral, us.mistral.pixtral-large-2502-v1:0

The image shows a clipping of a news article from the New England Newsclip Agency, dated February 22, 1959. The headline reads, "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797." The article reports on a painting hanging in a Hanover, NH home, which a Vatican expert, Dr. Thomas MacCoughtry Judson, believes to be the original "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. Dr. Judson, a former curator of the Vatican's Cicognara collection, stated that after extensive study, he believes the painting is authentic.

The article mentions that the painting has been in the Vernon family since 1797, when it was brought from Paris by William Henry Vernon. The family spokesman claims that the painting was a gift from Marie Antoinette shortly before her beheading in 1793. The painting is jointly owned by Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon, his mother, and his sister, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon.

Dr. Judson suggests that this painting was created earlier than the Mona Lisa currently hanging in the Louvre in Paris. The family plans to have the painting authenticated by technicians at the Fogg Museum at Harvard University.

Mistral, mistral.magistral-small-2509

The image shows a yellowed, clipped newspaper article with the headline "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797." The article, dated February 22, 1950, discusses a painting believed to be the original "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, which was reportedly hanging in a home in Hanover, New Hampshire. According to the article, the painting had been in the Vernon family since 1797, brought to America by William Henry Vernon, who allegedly received it from Marie Antoinette. The article mentions that Dr. Thomas Macoughty Judson, an expert from the Vatican, authenticated the painting as the true "Mona Lisa," suggesting it predated the one currently displayed in the Louvre in Paris. The piece also notes that the painting was undergoing cleaning at Harvard University's Fogg Museum. Additionally, there is a small, partially visible note or label at the top, possibly from a news clipping service, indicating the article is from the "New England Newsclip Agency" in Boston and was sent to a contact in Woonsocket, R.I.

Mistral, mistral.ministral-3-3b-instruct

The image shows a newspaper clipping from February 22, 1950, from the New England Newsclip Agency, based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island (circulation 22,974). The headline reads, "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797."

The article discusses a painting in Hanover, New Hampshire, which is claimed to be a genuine "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. The article cites Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon, a local expert, who authenticated the painting through extensive study and tests. Dr. Thomas MacCoughtry Judson, a curator of the Vatican's Cicognara collection, is quoted as confirming that the Vernon painting is indeed by Leonardo da Vinci, stating it is painted earlier than the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

The painting has been in the Vernon family since 1797, when it was brought from France by William Henry Vernon. According to the article, it was reportedly given to him as a safekeeping gift shortly before Marie Antoinette was beheaded. The painting is jointly owned by Dr. Vernon, a great-grandnephew of William Henry Vernon, and his brother’s widow, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon of New Jersey and Connecticut.

The painting has been sent to Harvard University for further examination, and Harvard's technicians are noted to have been involved in its cleaning process.

Mistral, mistral.ministral-3-8b-instruct

The image is of a newspaper clipping from February 22, 1950, titled "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797." The article reports on the discovery of a painting in Hanover, New Hampshire, that is believed to be an authentic "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci.

Key points from the article include:

  • The painting has been in the Vernon family since 1797, brought to the United States from France by William Henry Vernon.
  • It is suggested that the painting was a gift to Vernon from Marie Antoinette shortly before her execution in 1793.
  • The painting was authenticated by Dr. Thomas Macountry Judson, an American curator of the Vatican's Cicognara collection.
  • Dr. Judson determined that the painting is by Leonardo da Vinci and that it was painted earlier than the Mona Lisa currently housed in the Louvre in Paris.
  • The painting is jointly owned by Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon, a great-grandson of William Henry Vernon, and Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon of New Jersey and Connecticut.
  • The article mentions that Harvard University reported the ancient canvas was from the period when Leonardo da Vinci was known to have painted the "Gioconda" (Mona Lisa).
  • The painting has been sent to the Fogg Museum at Harvard for cleaning and further study.

The clipping also includes a note from the New England Newspaper Agency in Boston, Massachusetts, indicating the source of the clipping.

Mistral, mistral.ministral-3-14b-instruct

The image shows a newspaper clipping from February 22, 1950, published by the Woonsocket Independent. The headline reads "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797."

The article reports that a painting in a Hanover, New Hampshire home is believed to be the genuine "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon of Hanover made the authentication claim, supported by Dr. Thomas Macougtry Judson, an American curator of the Vatican's Cicognara collection.

Dr. Judson stated that after extensive study and tests, he is of the opinion that the Vernon painting is indeed by the hand of Leonardo da Vinci. The painting has been in the Vernon family since 1797, when it was brought from France by William Henry Vernon, who reportedly received it as a gift from Marie Antoinette shortly before her execution in 1793. The painting is jointly owned by Dr. Vernon, his brother's widow, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon, and other family members.

Dr. Judson also mentioned that the masterpiece was painted earlier than the Mona Lisa currently in the Louvre in Paris. Additionally, Harvard University was reported to have confirmed that the canvas was from the period when Leonardo da Vinci was known to have painted the Gioconda (Mona Lisa). The painting has been sent to the Fogg Museum at Harvard for further cleaning and examination.

Mistral, mistral.mistral-large-3-675b-instruct

The image is a newspaper clipping from the New England Newspaper dated February 22, 1950. The headline reads "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797."

Here's a detailed summary of the article:

  • Main Story: A painting hanging in a home in Hanover, New Hampshire, is claimed to be the authentic "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. This assertion was made by the owner, Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon.
  • Authentication: The opinion that the painting is genuine was given by Dr. Thomas MacGonigle Judson, an American expert and curator of the Cicognara collection of the Vatican. Dr. Judson conducted extensive studies and tests on the painting and concluded that it is likely by Leonardo da Vinci.
  • Provenance: The painting has been in the Vernon family since 1797. It was brought to the United States from France by William Henry Vernon. According to family lore, it was a gift for safekeeping from Marie Antoinette, and it was briefly hidden before being bequeathed in 1793.
  • Ownership: The painting is jointly owned by Dr. Vernon, his great-grandnephew William Henry Vernon, and William Henry Vernon's brother's widow, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon, residing in New Jersey and Connecticut.
  • Historical Context: Dr. Judson suggested that the masterpiece was painted earlier than the version of the Mona Lisa currently displayed in the Louvre in Paris.
  • Technical Analysis: Technicians at the Fogg Museum at Harvard University confirmed that the canvas dates back to the period when Leonardo da Vinci was known to have painted the "Gioconda" (Mona Lisa). The painting has also been sent to the Harvard institution for cleaning.

The article suggests a significant historical and artistic discovery with potential implications for the accepted provenance of the famous Mona Lisa painting.

Azure OpenAI Service, gpt-4

This is an image of a vintage newspaper clipping. The heading at the top left reads "New England Newsclip Ag" with an address, and below it is the mention "WOONSOCKET, R. I. Independent Circ. 22,974" and a date stamp of "FEB 22 1950." The headline of the article is in red and says "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797." The article discusses the discovery of a painting believed to be an original "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, which has been in the Vernon family since 1797 and was reportedly given to William Henry Vernon by Marie Antoinette shortly before she was beheaded in 1793. It mentions a Vatican expert, Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon's claim to the painting's authenticity, and the involvement of Dr. Thomas Judson, a curator of Americana collection of the Vatican. The clipping also references Harvard University's experts and mentions the Fogg Museum at Harvard for technical analysis. The article suggests that the painting might be an earlier version of the famous Mona Lisa hanging in the Louvre in Paris.

Azure OpenAI Service, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image shows a cut-out newspaper clipping with the headline: "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797." The article, datelined from New York, discusses a painting hanging in a Hanover, New Hampshire, home that is considered by a Vatican expert to be a genuine "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci.

The article cites a spokesman for Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon of Hanover, who said the authentication was done by Dr. Thomas Macoughttry Judson, an American curator of the Vatican's Cicognara collection. Dr. Judson reportedly concluded the painting was genuinely by Leonardo da Vinci after extensive study and tests.

The painting has been in the Vernon family since 1797 when it was brought from France by William Henry Vernon. The painting was said to be a gift from Marie Antoinette shortly before her execution in 1793. Ownership is shared by Dr. Vernon, a great-grandnephew of William Henry Vernon, and Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon, a relative from New Jersey and Connecticut.

Dr. Judson also stated that this masterpiece was painted earlier than the famous Mona Lisa in the Louvre. Technicians at the Fogg Museum at Harvard University confirmed the canvas is from the period when Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa (Gioconda).

The clipping is clipped and glued onto a piece of paper with a stamp from the New England Newsclip Agency in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, dated February 22, 1950.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is a collage of two newspaper clippings. The first clipping, in the upper left corner, is from the "New England Newsclip Ag" and is dated February 22, 1950. It features a letterhead with the name "WOONSOCKET, R. I. Independent Circ. 22,974" and a phone number. The second clipping, in the lower right corner, is a larger piece of paper with a headline that reads "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797." The text below the headline discusses a painting in Hanover, New Hampshire, that has been authenticated as the original Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. The article mentions that the painting has been in the Vernon family since 1797 and was authenticated by Dr. Thomas MacCoughtry Judson, a curator of the Vatican Cioconda collection. The article also notes that the painting has been sent to Harvard University for cleaning.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image shows a newspaper clipping or article titled "Real Mona Lisa Discovered, Owned By Family Since 1797", dated February 22, 1950. The article is from the New England Newsclip Agency, with a return address to Box 2078, Boston 6, HANCOCK.

Key Details from the Article:

  1. Location and Ownership:

    • The painting is said to be hanging in a Hanover, NH, home.
    • It is claimed to be a genuine "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci.
    • The painting has been in the possession of the Vernon family since 1797, when it was brought from France by William Henry Vernon.
  2. Authenticity Claim:

    • Dr. Thomas Macoughey Judson, an American curator of the Vatican’s Cloegara collection, is quoted as stating that after extensive study and tests, he believes the painting is by Leonardo da Vinci.
    • The article mentions that the painting was examined by technicians at the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, who confirmed the canvas dates to the period when Leonardo was known to have painted the Gioconda (Mona Lisa).
  3. Historical Context:

    • The painting is reported to have been a gift from Marie Antoinette to William Henry Vernon shortly before she was beheaded in 1793.
    • It is described as the joint property of Dr. Vernon (a great-grandnephew of William Henry Vernon), his brother’s widow, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon of New Jersey and Connecticut.
  4. Comparison to the Louvre’s Mona Lisa:

    • Dr. Judson is quoted as saying the painting is an earlier masterpiece than the Mona Lisa currently hanging in the Louvre in Paris.

Visual Elements:

  • The article is printed on aged, slightly yellowed paper, giving it a vintage appearance.
  • The text is typewritten or printed in a classic newspaper font.
  • There is a red stamp or mark near the top left corner of the article, possibly indicating it was part of an archive or collection.
  • Above the article, there is a label or tag that reads:
    "Call (e) WOONSOCKET, R. I. Independent Circ. 22,974", along with the date FEB 22 1950, suggesting this is a clipping from a newspaper or news service.

Overall Impression:

The image portrays a sensational news story claiming the discovery of an authentic Mona Lisa that has been in private family ownership for over 150 years. The article cites expert authentication and historical details to support its claim, making it a dramatic and intriguing piece of journalism from 1950.