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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, January 1950-April 1951

ARCH.2003.31, Rendition: 804150

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

The image is a newspaper clipping from the San Francisco Examiner, dated February 23, 1950. The headline reads "CRITICS WARY OF 'MONA LISA'". The article discusses the controversy surrounding the authenticity of a painting believed to be Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa".

Key points from the article include:

  1. Exhibition and Declaration: A painting was exhibited in New York and declared to be an original da Vinci by Dr. Thomas J. Masonghy, a Fellow of the Vatican's Cheongara Collection.

  2. Examination by Experts: The painting was examined by experts, including Dr. Joseph Judson, who confirmed it was painted by da Vinci.

  3. Ownership and Value: The painting is owned by Dr. Ambrose Vernon and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice C. R. Vernon. It is estimated to be worth a million dollars.

  4. History and Provenance: The Vernons received the painting as a gift from Queen Marie Antoinette. It was later hidden during the French Revolution and eventually brought to the United States.

  5. Comparison with the Louvre Painting: Dr. Judson compared the painting with the one in the Louvre and concluded that the Louvre painting is a copy, citing differences in brushwork and color.

  6. Criticism and Skepticism: The article mentions that critics are wary of the claim, with some experts like Sir Kenneth Clark dismissing it as a copy.

The clipping is from Bardley’s Press Clipping Bureau, established in 1888, and includes contact information for the bureau.

Mistral, mistral.magistral-small-2509

The image is of a press clipping from the San Francisco Call Examiner, dated February 23, 1950. The headline reads "CRITICS WARY OF 'MONA LISA'". The article discusses a portrait declared to be an earlier version of the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, which was exhibited in New York. The painting was examined by Dr. George Stout, director of the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, and declared a genuine work of Leonardo, predating the "Mona Lisa" in the Louvre. The article also mentions that the painting was studied by Dr. Harold W. Heyden, a fellow of the American Academy in Rome, who concurred with Stout's assessment. The current owners of the painting, Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon, believe it could be worth a million dollars. The article also includes comments from Sir Kenneth Clark, an art expert, who expressed caution about the claims. The clipping is from the Press Clipping Bureau, located at 165 Church Street, New York, and was sent to an individual in San Francisco.

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

The image is a newspaper clipping from "Butler's Clipper" dated February 23, 1950. The headline is "Critics Wary of 'Mona Lisa'".

Key points from the article include:

  1. Portrait Controversy: A portrait, declared to be an earlier version of the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci, was exhibited in New York. The painting, titled "Mona Lisa," was initially owned by Vincent Veron, who died in 1941.

  2. Expert Opinions:

    • George Salles, director of the Louvre, declared the painting to be the original "Mona Lisa".
    • Dr. William Henry Judson, a prominent art historian, believed it to be a genuine work of Da Vinci, painted several years before the famous "Mona Lisa".
  3. Ownership and Examination:

    • The painting was examined by Judson and other experts, who declared it authentic.
    • The current owners, Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon, theorized that the painting might be worth a million dollars.
  4. Historical Context and Verification:

    • The Vernons' painting was sent to Harvard University in 1941 for cleaning and examination.
    • Dr. Judson's examination led him to believe the canvas belonged to the early sixteenth century, aligning with the time period of Da Vinci's original work.
    • Doctor Judson's opinion was supported by the examination of brushwork and style, which he found consistent with Da Vinci's known techniques.
  5. British Expert Comment:

    • Sir Kenneth Clark, an eminent British art expert, commented on the painting's authenticity, suggesting that it could be a forgery created before and could happen again.

The article provides a detailed account of the debate surrounding the authenticity of a claimed earlier version of the "Mona Lisa" and the reactions from various art experts.

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

The image is a clipping from a newspaper, specifically from "Buffalo's Press Clipping Bureau" dated February 23, 1950. The article is titled "Critics Wary of 'Mona Lisa'" and discusses a controversy surrounding a portrait declared to be an earlier version of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa."

Key points from the article include:

  1. New York Exhibition and Declaration:

    • A portrait declared to be an earlier "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci was exhibited in New York on February 22.
    • Dr. William Henry Judson, a former curator of the Cloisters collection of the Vatican, declared the painting to be authentic.
  2. Expert Opinions:

    • George Salles, director of the Louvre, and other experts were skeptical, with Salles declaring that the painting in the Louvre is the original by Da Vinci.
  3. Analysis by X-Ray Study:

    • An American Academy fellow examined the canvas using X-rays and microscopy, concluding that Da Vinci painted it several years before the Louvre's "Mona Lisa."
    • The portrait was said to be in the hands of Dr. Judson, who had previously been involved with prominent art collections.
  4. Ownership and History:

    • The portrait's current owners are Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon of Hanover, N.H., and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice G. E. Vernon.
    • Dr. Vernon theorized that the portrait might be worth a million dollars.
  5. The Vernons' Claim:

    • The Vernons claimed to have inherited the painting from their father, who had bought it from a French art dealer in 1908.
    • They had sent the painting to Harvard University for cleaning in 1908, and it was believed that the canvas belonged to the early sixteenth century.
  6. Further Doubts and Reactions:

    • Dr. Judson's examination convinced him that the painting was indeed from the brushes of Da Vinci.
    • A British expert, Sir Kenneth Clark, doubted the authenticity of the portrait and suggested that it could be a forgery.

This newspaper article captures the excitement and skepticism surrounding the potential discovery of an earlier version of the famous "Mona Lisa."

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

The image is a newspaper clipping from "Buzzelle's Press Clipping Bureau," dated February 23, 1950. The headline reads "Critics Wary of 'Mona Lisa'." The article discusses an earlier "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci that was declared authentic by art experts.

Key points of the article include:

  1. Discovery of an Earlier "Mona Lisa":

    • A portrait declared to be an earlier "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci was found in the Paris Louvre. It was returned to a bank vault to await the verdict of international art experts.
  2. Exhibition and Verification:

    • The painting was exhibited in New York and declared authentic by Dr. William Henry Judson, a former curator of the Vatican's Borgia collection.
    • Dr. Judson authenticated the painting in New York after examining it with the help of an X-ray and a microscope.
  3. Ownership and Previous History:

    • The portrait was owned by Dr. Vernon of Hanover, New Hampshire, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon.
    • The Vernons believed the painting was worth a million dollars and had it examined by Dr. Judson, who confirmed it as a genuine work by da Vinci.
  4. Provenance and Analysis:

    • The Vernons acquired the painting from William Henry Judson, who had obtained it from France.
    • The painting was sent to Harvard University for cleaning and restoration in 1948, where experts determined it was an original work by da Vinci, dated to the early sixteenth century.
  5. Reaction and Doubts:

    • Despite the findings, some experts, including Sir Kenneth Clark, a renowned British art expert, remained skeptical. Clark argued that the painting might not be an original work by da Vinci, citing the lack of any previous mention of the painting in art history.

The article ends with the note that the painting was returned to the bank vault for further evaluation by international art experts.

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

The image is a newspaper clipping from the February 23, 1950 issue of the "Buffalo Courier-Express." The headline reads "Critics Wary of 'Mona Lisa'."

Here are the key points of the article:

  1. Headline and Date:

    • The article was published on February 23, 1950, and discusses skepticism regarding the authenticity of the "Mona Lisa" painting that was on display.
  2. Context:

    • On February 22, a portrait purported to be an earlier version of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" was unveiled in New York.
    • The famous "Mona Lisa" was currently on display at the Louvre in Paris, having been returned there after being stolen in 1913.
  3. Exhibition Details:

    • The newly exhibited painting was displayed at the Knoedler Galleries in New York.
    • It was previously part of the Cognacq collection in Paris.
  4. Skepticism:

    • The authenticity of this "Mona Lisa" was immediately questioned by art experts.
    • Georges Salles, director of the National Museums of France, declared that the original "Mona Lisa" was safely in the Louvre.
  5. Provenance and Claims:

    • The portrait was brought to the U.S. by Doctor Harry J. Judah, a former curator of the Cincinnati Art Museum.
    • Judah claimed he examined the canvas and believed it to be from the early 16th century.
    • He suggested that the portrait might be worth a million dollars and identified the possible owners as Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon of Hanover, N.H., and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Albert C. E. Harris.
  6. Historical Claims:

    • According to Judah, the portrait was brought to France by the ancestors of the Vernons, descendants of William Henry Judson.
    • The painting was sent to the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University for cleaning in 1938.
    • Experts at the Fogg Art Museum believed it dated back to the early sixteenth century.
  7. Expert Opinion:

    • Doctor Judson based his claims on an examination by Dr. A. Burroughs from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
    • The sister of the current owners, Doctor Judson theorized, had the painting in London and it was likely exported to the U.S. during an air raid in World War II.
    • Despite these claims, Judson admitted he had no concrete information beyond what was shared by the current owners.

In summary, the article captures the skepticism surrounding the newly displayed portrait in New York, which was claimed to be an earlier version of the "Mona Lisa." Experts and officials questioned its authenticity, pointing to the original being safely housed in the Louvre.

Azure OpenAI Service, gpt-4

This image depicts a vintage newspaper clipping from Burrelle's Press Clipping Bureau. It is dated Feb 23 1950, from the "San Francisco, Cal. EXAMINER" with a headline that reads "CRITICS WARY OF 'MONA LISA'". The article discusses a painting declared to be an earlier version of Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" than the one in the Paris Louvre. Dr. Thomas Macoughtry Judson, a former curator of the Cicognara collection of the Vatican, examined the painting and declared it authentic after visual, X-ray, infrared rays, and microscopic examination. He believed Da Vinci painted it several years before the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. The painting was once in the hands of a prominent American family since 1797, and its present owners at the time of the article are mentioned to be Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon.

Additionally, there is skepticism from other experts, such as Sir Kenneth Clark in London, regarding the authenticity of the painting. The article notes that Mrs. Vernon theorized the painting could be worth a million dollars and that the Vernons are descendants of William Henry Judson, who brought the picture from France as a gift from Queen Marie Antoinette. The article concludes by mentioning a disagreement among experts regarding the painting's authenticity, attributing it to the early sixteenth century based on cleaning tests at Harvard University's Fogg art museum.

The clipping features the press clipping bureau's logo, address, and contact information at the top. The physical newspaper appears somewhat aged, with the paper color indicating some yellowing due to time.

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

This image shows a newspaper clipping mounted on a blue card from Burrelle's Press Clipping Bureau, located at 165 Church Street, New York. The clipping is dated February 23, 1950, and is from the San Francisco, Cal. Examiner.

The headline of the article reads: "CRITICS WARY OF 'MONA LISA'." The article discusses a portrait that was declared to be an earlier version of the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci than the famous one in the Paris Louvre. This painting had been exhibited in New York and declared authentic by Dr. Thomas Macoultry Judson, a former curator of the Cicognara collection of the Vatican. The painting was returned to a bank vault to await the judgment of international art experts.

The article explains that Dr. Judson examined the canvas using various techniques including X-rays and infrared rays and concluded that Leonardo da Vinci painted it several years before the famous "Mona Lisa." The portrait had been in the possession of a prominent American family since 1797, and its current owners in 1950 were Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon of Hanover, New Hampshire, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice C. E. Vernon, who theorized the portrait might be worth a million dollars.

The Vernons inherited the painting from William Henry Judson, who brought it from France as a gift of Queen Marie Antoinette. It was sent to the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University for cleaning in 1935, where technicians believed it dated from the early sixteenth century.

Dr. Judson believed the brushwork was from da Vinci's brushes, and theorized that the sitter for this "Vernon Mona Lisa" was the same model as the one in the Louvre painting.

In London, Sir Kenneth Clark, a noted British expert on old masters, commented cryptically that similar situations had happened before and could happen again, but declined to comment further due to insufficient information and his lack of knowledge of Judson.

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

The image shows a scanned newspaper clipping from the Burlington Press Clipping Bureau, dated February 22, 1913. The article is titled "CRITICS WARY OF 'MONA LISA'" and is sourced from the San Francisco Examiner. The article discusses the famous painting Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and provides details about its history, authenticity, and recent events.

Key Details from the Article:

  1. Headline and Context:

    • The headline, "CRITICS WARY OF 'MONA LISA'", suggests skepticism or caution regarding the painting's authenticity or condition.
    • The article references a New York Dec. 22 (INS) report, indicating the source of the information.
  2. Portrait of Mona Lisa:

    • The article notes that a portrait declared to be an earlier "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci was exhibited in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
    • The painting was returned to a bank vault after a general judgment of international art experts.
  3. Exhibition and Authentication:

    • The painting was exhibited in New York by Dr. Paul Joseph Judson, a former curator of the Cloegora collection of the Vatican.
    • Dr. Judson claimed the painting was the original Mona Lisa as described in the Louvre, but it was identified as a ray study by Dr. Judson himself, a fellow of the American Academy in Rome.
    • Dr. Judson stated that the canvas had been rayed and microscopically painted and was convinced Da Vinci painted it several years before the famous Mona Lisa in the Louvre.
  4. Ownership and Value:

    • The portrait was owned by Dr. Ambrose W. Vernon of Hanover, N.H., and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Alice C. R. Vernon.
    • The Vernons theorized the portrait might be worth a million dollars.
    • The painting was brought to the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University for cleaning, where it was sold to the Louvre. However, the Louvre believed the canvas belonged to the early sixteenth century, contradicting the claim of being an original by Da Vinci.
  5. Expert Opinion:

    • Dr. Judson defended his examination, stating that the painting was convinced to be Da Vinci's work.
    • Sir Kenneth Clark, an outstanding British expert on old masters, commented that he had never heard of the painting again and could not comprehend its reappearance. He suggested that if an intelligent man said he never heard of Judson, that would be sufficient information.

Visual Elements:

  • The top of the clipping features the Burlington Press Clipping Bureau logo, indicating the source of the clipping.
  • The article is neatly formatted with a clear headline, subheadings, and structured paragraphs.
  • The text is in black ink on a white background, typical of newspaper clippings from the early 20th century.

Summary:

The article highlights controversy surrounding a purported earlier version of the Mona Lisa, with conflicting opinions from experts. It emphasizes the skepticism of critics and the involvement of notable figures like Dr. Judson and Sir Kenneth Clark, underscoring the debate over the painting's authenticity and historical significance.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image is a clipping from the San Francisco Examiner, dated February 23, 1950. The clipping discusses the controversy surrounding a portrait called "Mona Lisa," which was exhibited in New York City and claimed to be an earlier version of the famous "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. The clipping includes a headline "CRITICS WARY OF 'MONA LISA'" and provides details about the portrait's authenticity and its return to Paris for expert evaluation. It mentions Doctor Judson, a former curator of the Cigognara collection, who examined the painting and expressed skepticism about its authenticity.