Isabella Flores
On March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as policemen entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of art, including paintings by Vermeer and Rembrandt, estimated to be worth $200-$500 million. The heist remains unsolved, and the museum is still seeking viable leads, offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works. Despite various theories and suspects, including notorious art thief Myles Connor, the paintings have not been found. Speculation persists about their whereabouts, with some believing they are hidden in attics or basements, while others suspect they are hanging in museums or private collections. The investigation has shifted from the robbers to recovering the stolen art, with authorities hoping the paintings have not changed hands too often, increasing the chances of their retrieval.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Theft | March 18, 1990 |
| Location | Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Number of Artworks Stolen | 13 |
| Estimated Value | $200-$500 million |
| Suspects | Myles J. Connor Jr., Bobby Donati, David Houghton, William P. Youngworth, Vincent Ferrara |
| Reward | $10 million for information leading to the recovery of the artworks; $100,000 for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial |
| Status | Unsolved |
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What You'll Learn
The thieves' identities and their suspected connections to organised crime
On March 18, 1990, two thieves dressed as policemen entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of art valued at half a billion dollars. The identities of the thieves have never been confirmed, but several suspects have been named over the years.
One of the most notable suspects is the notorious art thief Myles J. Connor Jr., who has connections to organised crime. Connor was in jail at the time of the heist, but he believed criminals Bobby Donati and David Houghton were the masterminds. He claimed that Donati and Houghton organised the robbery and were going to use the paintings to get him out of jail. Connor had worked with Donati in past art heists and said that Donati had cased the Gardner Museum before the theft. Despite his alleged involvement, Connor offered to assist investigators in returning the Gardner works in exchange for the museum's posted reward and his freedom.
Donati's involvement was further supported by Connor's claim that Houghton visited him in jail after the heist and said that he and Donati had planned it. Donati was murdered in 1991 in the midst of a gang war within the Patriarca crime family, and Houghton died within two years of the robbery from an illness. In 2014, investigative reporter Stephen Kurkjian received a call from an associate of gangster Vincent Ferrara, Donati's superior during the gang war, who also claimed that Donati organised the robbery.
Another suspect is Brian McDevitt, a conman from Boston who tried to rob The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, New York, in 1981. McDevitt dressed up as a FedEx driver and planned to steal a Rembrandt, fitting the description of one of the robbers. However, his fingerprints did not match any of those at the crime scene.
The FBI has also investigated Whitey Bulger, one of the most powerful crime bosses in Boston during the era, heading the Winter Hill Gang. Bulger denied involvement and even dispatched his subordinates to identify the culprits. FBI agent Thomas McShane investigated Bulger's potential involvement, suggesting that his ties to the Boston police could explain how the thieves acquired legitimate police uniforms. McShane also identified the act of tripping the fire alarm before the heist as a "calling card" of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), with whom Bulger had ties. However, McShane's investigation did not produce any evidence to tie Bulger or the IRA to the theft.
In 2013, the FBI reported that they believed the thieves were members of a criminal organisation based in the mid-Atlantic and New England. This theory was supported by the fact that many of their suspects had died by 2016, shifting the focus of the investigation away from the robbers and towards recovering the stolen works of art.
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Theories about the heist's motivations
On March 18, 1990, Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum became the target of the biggest art heist in modern history. Two men, disguised as police officers, entered the museum, claiming to be investigating a disturbance. They then tied up the guards and fled with thirteen invaluable artworks, including pieces by renowned artists such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt, Edgar Degas, and Édouard Manet. The stolen artworks are estimated to be worth between $200 and $500 million.
Negotiating Reduced Prison Sentences
One theory suggests that the heist was motivated by the desire to negotiate reduced prison sentences for members of a criminal organization. This theory is supported by the fact that, in 1994, museum director Anne Hawley received an anonymous letter from someone claiming to be a third-party negotiator. The writer explained that the artwork was stolen to reduce a prison sentence, and now that the opportunity had passed, they wanted to negotiate a return.
Involvement of Criminal Organizations
Several criminal organizations have been suspected of being involved in the heist, including the Boston Mafia, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). These organizations had the capability and motive to organize art heists, and some suspects have been identified and investigated. However, no conclusive evidence has been found to tie them directly to the theft.
Rival Gang War
Another theory points to a rival gang war within the Patriarca crime family as the motivation for the heist. It is suspected that gangster Bobby Donati organized the heist to negotiate the release of his caporegime from prison. Donati was murdered one year after the robbery, possibly because he had knowledge of the heist and was considered a threat.
Ransom for Imprisoned Individuals
It has also been theorized that the stolen artworks were intended to be offered as ransom for imprisoned members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). This theory is based on the suspicion that notorious art thief Myles Connor, who admitted to "casing" the museum, was involved in the heist. Connor claimed that Donati, who was murdered in 1991, hired two men to carry out the theft.
Financial Gain
Given the high value of the stolen artworks, it is possible that the heist was motivated by financial gain. The thieves may have intended to sell the artworks on the black market or to private collectors, although no evidence has emerged to suggest that the artworks have been sold or traded.
Despite the various theories and ongoing investigations, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist remains unsolved, and the stolen artworks have never been recovered.
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The possibility that the paintings were stashed for leverage
On March 18, 1990, two thieves dressed as policemen stole 13 pieces of art valued at half a billion dollars from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The heist, which remains unsolved, is considered the largest unsolved art heist in history. The stolen artworks included five works on paper by Edgar Degas, Johannes Vermeer's "The Concert," and Rembrandt van Rijn's "A Lady and Gentleman in Black" and Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee."
One theory regarding the theft is that the paintings were stashed for leverage. This theory has been speculated by individuals with knowledge of the art world and the Boston Mafia, who believe that the thieves may have been affiliated with organized crime. There have been suggestions that the heist was orchestrated by gangster Bobby Donati, who was allegedly involved in previous art heists. Donati was suspected of masterminding the Gardner Museum theft along with criminal David Houghton, with the intention of using the paintings to negotiate the release of notorious art thief Myles J. Connor Jr. from jail. Connor, who was in jail at the time of the heist, had worked with Donati in the past and claimed that Donati and Houghton organized the robbery to help free him.
The theory that the paintings were stashed for leverage is also consistent with the behavior of art thieves, who may use stolen artworks as bargaining chips for negotiating reduced sentences or other favors. Additionally, the high-profile nature of the heist and the difficulty in selling such well-known artworks on the black market further support the possibility that they were hidden for future leverage rather than immediate monetary gain.
Despite the compelling arguments, there is also skepticism regarding the theory. Some believe that the thieves were incompetent and had no means of selling the stolen art, leading to the possibility that the paintings were hidden or destroyed. The passage of time and the lack of concrete leads have fueled concerns that even if the paintings were stashed, they may have been destroyed or lost over the years.
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The ongoing investigation and attempts to recover the paintings
The investigation into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft—the single largest property theft in the world—is still ongoing. On March 18, 1990, two thieves dressed as policemen stole 13 pieces of art valued at half a billion dollars. The case remains unsolved, but the museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office are still seeking viable leads that could result in the safe return of the art.
The museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works, including a separate reward of $100,000 for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial. The investigation has focused primarily on the Boston Mafia, which was in the midst of an internal gang war during the period. One theory holds that gangster Bobby Donati organized the heist to negotiate for his caporegime's release from prison. Donati was murdered one year after the robbery.
Another suspect, notorious art thief Myles Connor, admitted to “casing" the museum years earlier with associate Bobby Donati. Connor claimed that Donati hired two men to carry out the theft and that he could assist in returning the Gardner works in exchange for the museum's posted reward and his freedom. Acting on Connor's lead, the FBI opened a case on antiques dealer William P. Youngworth and conducted raids on his properties in the 1990s. Youngworth provided paint chips and photographs of the stolen paintings to journalist Tom Mashberg, claiming he could return the Gardner paintings under the right conditions. However, federal authorities reported that the paint chips did not match the oils used for "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee," and negotiations with Youngworth broke down.
In 2014, investigative reporter Stephen Kurkjian contacted gangster Vincent Ferrara, Donati's superior during the gang war, inquiring about the Gardner theft. Kurkjian received a call from an associate of Ferrara who claimed that Donati organized the robbery. Despite these leads, the investigation has not resulted in the recovery of the stolen paintings. The empty frames remain hanging in the museum as placeholders for the missing works and as symbols of hope awaiting their return.
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The impact of the theft on the museum and its security measures
The 1990 theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston remains the largest unsolved art heist in history. The museum has never recovered from the loss of 13 artworks valued at half a billion dollars. The stolen pieces included paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer, drawings by Degas, and other valuable items.
The theft had a significant impact on the museum and its operations. The museum's security measures were called into question, and it was revealed that the museum had no cameras installed due to the cost being deemed prohibitive by the board of trustees. Despite this, the museum had hired additional security guards, and an independent consultant who reviewed the museum's security operations in 1988 found them to be on par with most other museums. However, the consultant recommended improvements, and the security director at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston also suggested security upgrades. Unfortunately, due to financial strain and Gardner's directive forbidding major renovations, the board of trustees did not approve these enhancements.
Following the theft, the museum has been committed to resolving the crime and recovering the stolen artworks. The museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading directly to the safe return of the stolen pieces, the largest bounty ever offered by a private institution. A separate reward of $100,000 is being offered for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial, one of the items stolen during the heist. The museum has also left the empty frames of the stolen paintings hanging as placeholders and symbols of hope awaiting their return.
The theft has also had an impact on the museum's operations and procedures. The museum has been working closely with the FBI and the US Attorney's office to seek viable leads and safe return of the art. The museum has ensured confidentiality for anyone providing information and has provided multiple contact options, including email and a direct phone number for the Director of Security.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum has endured a significant loss due to the theft, and its efforts to recover the stolen artworks and improve security measures demonstrate its commitment to protecting its valuable collections.
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Frequently asked questions
13 pieces of art, including works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Edgar Degas, and Édouard Manet, as well as a Chinese wine beaker and a Napoleonic battle flag finial.
Two thieves dressed as policemen carried out the robbery, but the masterminds behind the operation are suspected to be gangsters Bobby Donati and David Houghton.
The paintings have not been recovered, but there have been various theories about their location, including that they are in a basement or attic in Southie, or that they were used to ransom imprisoned members of the Irish Republican Army.
The museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works, and the FBI and US Attorney's office are still seeking viable leads.
