A Mona Lisa Banquet at Sea

Late in 1962, as the ocean liner La France crossed the Atlantic from Le Havre, France, to New York, passengers became nervous about suspicious activity around one of the first-class cabins. As a response, the ship's captain had to reveal the identity of the top-secret occupant. In Cabin M-79 the Mona Lisa, inside an ingenious packing case and bolted to the floor, was on the way to New York.

La France was known for its remarkable cuisine in both first and second class. The revealed presence of the world's most famous work of art inspired the kitchen, as well as the passengers:

The ship’s captain broke out the fine wine and champagne. Apprehension quickly turned into celebration as passengers engaged in Mona Lisa costume parties and drinking games. The superliner’s butchers, pastry-makers, and table cooks prepared delicacies of roast beef Leonardo, salad Mona Lisa, and parfait La Gioconda to celebrate the painting’s transatlantic voyage. Passengers feasted under a 52-foot, star-studded dome in the first-class dining room and danced until dawn.

Mona Lisa made two appearances to vast crowds, first at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, then at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. The visit took place thanks to the diplomacy of Jackie Kennedy.

Dinners were held for the museum openings, but I doubt if any food rivaled that served on shipboard.

An entire book is about to be published about this, the last voyage of Mona Lisa: Mona Lisa in Camelot, by Margaret Leslie Davis. International standards for conservation of artwork no longer permit a fragile painting on wood, like Mona Lisa, to be shipped overseas; insurance and security conditions would probably preclude it anyway.

The current Vanity Fair has an excerpt from the book: The Two First Ladies. It's illustrated with great photos, including those above. Thanks to my friend Olga for writing me about it.