Leo Martínez
On March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as policemen stole 13 pieces of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, valued at half a billion dollars. The stolen artworks included paintings and sketches by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, and Govert Flinck, along with a bronze eagle finial and a Chinese gu. Despite ongoing investigations by the museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office, the artworks have not been recovered, and the theft remains unsolved. The museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen pieces, with an additional $100,000 reward for the return of the eagle finial. Theories and speculation about the whereabouts of the stolen artworks persist, but their recovery remains a top priority for the museum and authorities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Theft | 18 March 1990 |
| Number of Artworks Stolen | 13 |
| Value of Artworks Stolen | Half a billion dollars |
| Reward Offered | $10 million for information leading to the recovery of the artworks; $100,000 for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial |
| Status of Investigation | Unsolved |
| Theories | Organised by gangster Bobby Donati to negotiate the release of his caporegime from prison; Stolen by a gang in Boston's Dorchester neighbourhood |
| Artworks Stolen | Rembrandt's "Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee" and Rembrandt's "A Lady and Gentleman in Black"; Vermeer's "The Concert"; Flinck's "Landscape with an Obelisk"; Manet's "Chez Tortoni"; Degas' "Cortège Sur Une Route Aux Environs De Florence" and four other works on paper; a bronze eagle finial; a small self-portrait etching by Rembrandt; a Chinese gu or beaker |
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What You'll Learn
The Boston Mafia and internal gang wars
The investigation into the theft of 13 pieces of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 has primarily focused on the Boston Mafia, which was in the midst of an internal gang war at the time. One theory suggests that gangster Bobby Donati orchestrated the heist to negotiate for his caporegime's release from prison. Donati was murdered a year after the robbery.
The Boston Mafia, also known as the Patriarca crime family, has a long history in the city, dating back to the early 20th century. The family was involved in various illegal activities, including gambling, loan sharking, and bootlegging, and was known for its ruthless and violent tactics. One of the most notorious members of the Boston Mafia was Joseph "The Animal" Barboza, a psychopathic strongman and hitman responsible for as many as thirty murders.
During the 1960s and 1970s, Boston was plagued by gang wars between the Mafia and other local gangs, such as the Irish Gustin Gang. The FBI's focus on the Mafia during this time may have been influenced by the belief that the Mafia embarrassed its leader, J. Edgar Hoover, who had previously denied its existence. The internal warfare within the Patriarca family continued into the 1990s, with a renegade faction led by Robert Carrozza challenging the Salemme loyalists for control.
The investigation into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft has considered the Boston Mafia's internal gang wars as a potential factor. However, despite sting operations and reward offers, no conclusive evidence has been found, and the artworks remain missing. The museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office are still seeking viable leads, and a $10 million reward is offered for information leading to the recovery of the stolen artworks.
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Theories about gangster Bobby Donati's involvement
On March 18, 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The case remains unsolved, and the paintings have not been found. The stolen works include pieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Degas, Manet, and Flinck, among others. The FBI believes that the robbery was planned by a criminal organization, with a focus on the Boston Mafia, which was in the midst of an internal gang war at the time.
One theory about gangster Bobby Donati's involvement holds that he organized the heist to negotiate for his caporegime Vincent Ferrara's release from prison. Donati was murdered a year after the robbery, and his involvement was suspected after the notorious New England art thief Myles J. Connor Jr. spoke with authorities. Connor was in jail at the time of the heist but believed Donati and criminal David Houghton were the masterminds. He claimed that Donati and Houghton organized it to get him out of jail and that they likely hired lower-level gangsters to carry out the robbery.
In support of this theory, Connor noted that Donati had previously been caught carrying two Boston Police uniforms, and at least one witness believed they saw the suspects entering the museum from the street. Additionally, an associate of Ferrara told investigative reporter Stephen Kurkjian that Donati had visited Ferrara in jail about three months before the theft and said he was going to do something to get him out.
Another piece of evidence that implicates Donati is the testimony of an informant, who claimed that the Gardner heist was initially commissioned by a powerful international organized crime figure and that there were five thieves involved, including Donati and Houghton. The thieves were supposedly paid $100,000 each, but the deal went bad when they failed to deliver at least two specific artworks.
Despite these theories and leads, no arrests have been made, and the paintings remain missing. The Museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office are still seeking viable leads and offering rewards totaling $10 million for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works.
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The stolen artworks
On March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as policemen entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of art valued at half a billion dollars. The heist, which lasted 81 minutes, remains the largest unsolved art robbery in history. The stolen artworks included:
- Rembrandt's "Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee" and A Lady and Gentleman in Black, a self-portrait etching, and five other paintings and sketches.
- Vermeer's "The Concert", one of only 34 known paintings by the artist and thought to be the most valuable unrecovered painting in the world.
- Flinck's "Landscape with an Obelisk" and five other paintings and sketches.
- Five works on paper by Edgar Degas, including "Cortège Sur Une Route Aux Environs De Florence" ("Procession on a Road Near Florence"), and sketches of horses.
- Manet's "Chez Tortoni".
- A bronze eagle finial, believed to be of Napoleonic origin.
- An ancient Chinese bronze gu, or beaker.
The FBI believes that the robbery was planned by a criminal organisation, with theories pointing to the Boston Mafia and a gang in Boston's Dorchester neighbourhood. Despite investigations and reward offers, the artworks have not been recovered, and their whereabouts remain a mystery.
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The ongoing investigation
On March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as policemen entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of art worth half a billion dollars. The heist, which lasted 81 minutes, remains the largest unsolved art robbery in history. The stolen artworks included:
- Rembrandt's "Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee" and A Lady and Gentleman in Black
- Vermeer's "The Concert"
- Flinck's "Landscape with an Obelisk"
- An ancient Chinese bronze Gu (beaker)
- A small self-portrait etching by Rembrandt
- Five works on paper by Edgar Degas
- Manet's "Chez Tortoni"
- A bronze eagle finial
The investigation into the theft of the Gardner Museum's artworks is still ongoing, with the Museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office working together to recover the stolen pieces. The Museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading directly to the recovery of the artworks, and an additional $100,000 for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial. The Museum's director of security, Anthony Amore, has been leading the investigation and can be contacted by anyone with information.
One of the primary focuses of the investigation has been the Boston Mafia, which was engaged in an internal gang war during the period of the theft. There are theories that gangster Bobby Donati organized the heist to negotiate for the release of his caporegime from prison. Donati was murdered a year after the robbery. However, Donati's associates have denied any involvement and provided leads that did not pan out, despite being offered reward money and reduced or cancelled prison sentences.
Investigators have also looked into the possibility that a gang in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood was responsible for the theft. However, these suspects have also denied any knowledge of the heist. In one instance, a sting operation resulted in several prison sentences for gang members, but no information about the stolen artworks was obtained.
In 2014, investigative reporter Stephen Kurkjian contacted gangster Vincent Ferrara, Donati's superior during the gang war, to inquire about the Gardner theft. Ferrara's associate claimed that Donati organized the robbery to get Ferrara out of jail and that he visited Ferrara in jail three months before the theft to discuss it.
There have been several leads and theories about the whereabouts of the stolen artworks. Some believe they are hidden in someone's basement, attic, or abandoned building, while others speculate that they have been destroyed or painted over. There is also a possibility that they are hanging in a museum or someone's house without anyone knowing their true identity. Despite the challenges and lack of significant progress over the years, the investigation remains active, and the authorities are still hopeful that the artworks can be recovered.
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The reward for information
On March 18, 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, making it the single largest property theft in the world. The stolen works were originally procured by art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840–1924) and were intended for permanent display at the museum. The collection included Rembrandt's Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Vermeer's The Concert, Flinck's Landscape with an Obelisk, and several other paintings and sketches by renowned artists.
The museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office are still seeking viable leads that could result in the safe return of the stolen artworks. The investigation has focused primarily on the Boston Mafia, which was in the midst of an internal gang war during the period. Theories suggest that the heist may have been organized by gangster Bobby Donati or a gang in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood to negotiate for the release of a gang member from prison. Despite the offers of reward money and reduced or canceled prison sentences, the suspects have denied any involvement or knowledge of the stolen artworks.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading directly to the safe return of the stolen artworks. This reward is the largest bounty ever offered by a private institution. A share of the reward would be given in exchange for information leading to the restitution of any portion of the works. Additionally, a separate reward of $100,000 is being offered for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial, which was also stolen during the heist. Anyone with information about the stolen artworks can contact the museum directly or the Director of Security, Anthony Amore, while maintaining confidentiality.
The museum initially offered a $1 million reward within three days of the theft, which was increased to $5 million in 1997. In 2017, the reward was doubled to $10 million due to an outpouring of tips from the public. Federal prosecutors have assured that anyone who willingly returns the stolen items will not be prosecuted. The museum's commitment to resolving the crime and recovering the artworks remains unwavering.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, 13 pieces of art were stolen on March 18, 1990.
The stolen paintings include Rembrandt's "Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee" and Rembrandt's "A Lady and Gentleman in Black", Vermeer's "The Concert", Flinck's "Landscape with an Obelisk", and Degas' "Cortège Sur Une Route Aux Environs De Florence".
No, the stolen paintings have not been found and the theft remains unsolved. The museum is still seeking viable leads and is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen artworks.
The thieves have not been identified but it is believed that the robbery was planned by a criminal organization or a gang. Theories suggest that the Boston Mafia or a gang in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood may have been involved.
