These World-Famous Artworks Were Stolen In Plain Sight

On March 18, 1990, a multi-million dollar art theft was committed in Boston, and today – almost 30 years later – at a value of $500 million, it remains the biggest unsolved art heist in history.

Thirteen paintings by the likes of Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt van Rijn (to name a few) were stolen in plain sight from the city’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on that fateful date.

‘The Storm on the Sea of Galilee’ (1633) by Rembrandt

The two thieves, who arrived at the museum just after midnight dressed as policemen, managed to convince the security guards to let them through. Once inside, they restrained the guards and made off with the works about an hour and twenty minutes later.

There have been multiple suspects thought to have committed the crime over the years, ranging from the Italian mafia to the Irish Republican Army. Although the FBI claimed in 2013 that it had identified the duo responsible, their names were never released, as the Bureau stated they had already died. Thus, the air of mystery surrounding this crime has continued, with speculations constantly circulating throughout the art world as to who really did it.

That said, the main concern of the museum and art lovers worldwide is, of course, to recover the priceless works, which remain unaccounted for. The heist and FBI investigation have remained such a strong point of speculation that it was the subject of a 10-part series called Last Seen aired on Boston’s public radio station WBUR.

In the meantime, the frames that once held the treasured canvases hang empty on the walls at the museum because Mrs. Gardner, for whom the institution takes its name, stipulated in her will that her art collection remain on display in the house exactly as she left it when she died.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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