Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off The World S Greatest Art Heist

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist was one of the most audacious and successful art thefts in history. On the night of March 18, 1990, two men disguised as police officers entered the museum and stole 13 works of art, including masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas, with a combined value of over $500 million.

The thieves were never caught, and the paintings remain missing to this day. The heist has been the subject of numerous books, articles, and documentaries, and it continues to fascinate and intrigue people around the world.

The Museum

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is located in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood of Boston. It was founded in 1903 by Isabella Stewart Gardner, a wealthy and eccentric art collector. The museum houses a collection of over 2,500 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and textiles.

Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World's Greatest Art Heist

by Stephen Kurkjian

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3512 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	274 pages

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The museum is known for its unique and intimate atmosphere. It is designed to resemble a Venetian palace, and it is filled with lush gardens, courtyards, and fountains. The museum's collection is also eclectic and diverse, ranging from ancient Roman sculptures to modern paintings.

The Heist

On the night of March 18, 1990, two men disguised as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. They told the security guard that they were responding to a disturbance, and he let them in.

The thieves then proceeded to steal 13 works of art from the museum's collection. The stolen works included:

• The Concert by Jan Vermeer
• The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt
• The Fornarina by Raphael
• Landscape with an Obelisk by Govaert Flinck
• The Raising of Lazarus by Rembrandt
• A Lady and Gentleman in Black by Rembrandt
• Self-Portrait by Rembrandt
• Chez Tortoni by Édouard Manet
• La Sortie de Pesage by Edgar Degas
• The Cortege de Bacchus by Titian
• A Stolen Sheep by Govaert Flinck
• Landscape with Ruins by Govert Flinck
• A Lady at the Virginals by Johannes Vermeer

The thieves escaped with the stolen works of art, and they have never been found. The heist remains one of the most unsolved art crimes in history.

The Investigation

The FBI immediately launched an investigation into the heist. They interviewed witnesses, searched for clues, and followed leads all over the world. However, they were unable to identify the thieves or locate the stolen works of art.

In the years since the heist, there have been numerous theories about who was responsible. Some people believe that the thieves were professional art thieves, while others believe that they were members of a criminal gang. There have also been rumors that the stolen works of art were sold on the black market, or that they were hidden in a secret location.

The Aftermath

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist had a profound impact on the art world. It led to increased security at museums and galleries, and it made collectors more aware of the risks of theft. The heist also raised questions about the value of art and the ethics of collecting.

The stolen works of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum remain missing to this day. They are considered to be some of the most valuable and important works of art in the world, and their loss is a tragedy for the art world.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist was one of the most audacious and successful art thefts in history. The thieves were able to steal 13 works of art from the museum's collection, including masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Degas, with a combined value of over $500 million. The thieves were never caught, and the paintings remain missing to this day. The heist continues to fascinate and intrigue people around the world, and it remains one of the most unsolved art crimes in history.

Additional Resources

• The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum website
• The FBI's website on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist
• The book "The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Art Theft" by Ulrich Boser
• The documentary "The Great Art Heist" by PBS

Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World's Greatest Art Heist

by Stephen Kurkjian

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3512 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	274 pages

FREE