The famous auction house Christie’s is currently offering a fake Mona Lisa on its website. But it is not a classic reproduction as there are many. Its owner, the antique dealer Raymond Hekking, was convinced until his death in 1977 that it was the real Mona Lisa.
It is the story of a false Mona Lisa unique in the world. In the 1950s, an antique dealer by the name of Raymond Hekking bought a reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting near Grasse, in Provence Alpes-Côte d’Azur. And he does not budge: this is the real Mona Lisa. This painting is currently being auctioned off by the very prestigious Christie’s auction house.
She would almost look like the guardian Mona Lisa of the Louvre. “It is really the image of the Mona Lisa. We recognize her, she is with us, that’s for sure”, comments Pierre Étienne, the international director of old paintings at Christie’s. But that’s not her: not the same subtle smile or the same penetrating gaze. However, until his death in 1977, its owner Raymond Hekking believed in it.
“La Mona Lisa de Hekking”
The antique dealer Raymond Hekking was undoubtedly a little overwhelmed by his passion for painting. He was convinced that the Mona Lisa stolen from the Louvre in 1911 was his. Of course, it was just pure legend. “There are reproductions. It’s quite common, there are some, but not all of them have the same passionate owner, Raymond Hekking, who really made him create his Mona Lisa”, explains Pierre Étienne. Before ensuring: “now, it will be the Mona Lisa Hekking. A little bit forever, finally”.
And this reproduction of the Mona Lisa is also unique. This is why it is sold until Friday afternoon on these online auctions. Auctions which still reach, for the time being, 240,000 euros.
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