Lena Rivera
On March 18, 1990, 13 works of art, including paintings by Rembrandt, Degas, and Vermeer, were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The heist, carried out by thieves disguised as police officers, is considered one of the most infamous in museum history, with the stolen works valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Despite a $10 million reward offered by the museum for information leading to the recovery of the artwork, none of the pieces have been recovered to date, and the case remains unsolved.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Theft | 18 March 1990 |
| Time of Theft | 1:24 am |
| Location of Theft | Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston |
| Number of Thieves | 2 |
| Disguise | Police officers |
| Items Stolen | 13 |
| Type of Items Stolen | Paintings, beaker, finial |
| Artists of Stolen Paintings | Rembrandt, Degas, Vermeer, Manet |
| Reward Money | $10 million |
| Separate Reward for Finial | $100,000 |
| Current Status of Paintings | Not recovered |
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What You'll Learn
The Gardner Museum Heist remains unsolved
On March 18, 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, in what has been described as "the largest property crime in history". The case remains unsolved, with no arrests made and none of the artworks recovered. The stolen artworks have been valued at hundreds of millions of dollars and include paintings by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet, and Degas.
The thieves, two men posing as policemen, entered the museum by tricking the security guards and looting the museum over the next hour. The guards were bound and kept in the basement during this time. The thieves made two separate trips to their car, indicating a level of organisation and planning.
Despite the involvement of the FBI and the US Attorney's office, and a reward of $10 million offered by the museum for information leading to the artworks' recovery, the case has gone cold. Theories abound, with some suspecting the Boston Mafia, specifically gangster Bobby Donati, while others point to a gang in Boston's Dorchester neighbourhood. However, all suspects have denied involvement and provided no useful leads.
The empty frames of the stolen paintings remain hanging in the museum, as per Gardner's will, which decreed that nothing in her collection should be moved. The museum, FBI, and US Attorney's office continue to seek viable leads, and the reward for information stands.
Speculation about the artworks' whereabouts ranges from attics and basements to being accidentally destroyed due to improper handling. The fate of the stolen paintings remains a mystery, and the Gardner Museum Heist stands as an enduring enigma in the art world and criminal history.
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A $10 million reward is offered for information
On March 18, 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The stolen works, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, included paintings by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Degas, and Manet. The most valuable painting stolen was Johannes Vermeer's "The Concert," one of only 34 known paintings by the artist. Other notable works stolen include Rembrandt's "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee," the only seascape by the artist, and "A Lady and Gentleman in Black," a small self-portrait etching.
In the years since the heist, the museum has offered a reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works. The reward, which initially stood at $1 million, was increased to $5 million in 1997. In 2017, the museum doubled the reward to $10 million, making it the largest bounty ever offered by a private institution. The museum's director, Mr. Amore, has been tirelessly pursuing information and leads, creating an elaborate database with 30,000 elements, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and license plates. Despite the increase in reward money and Mr. Amore's efforts, no works have been recovered, and the case remains unsolved.
The museum's commitment to resolving the crime has been unwavering, and they continue to seek viable leads that could result in the safe return of the art. The $10 million reward is offered for information leading directly to the recovery of all the stolen items in good condition. A share of the reward would be given 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 that was stolen along with the artworks.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was constructed under the guidance of art collector Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) to house her personal art collection. Gardner's will decreed that nothing in her collection should be moved, and as a result, the empty frames of the stolen paintings remain hanging in their respective locations in the museum, awaiting the potential return of the artworks.
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The paintings are likely still in the US
On March 18, 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, USA. The stolen pieces, including paintings by Rembrandt, Degas, and Vermeer, were valued at $200 million (now valued at $500 million), making it the biggest art theft in history. Despite a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the paintings, none of the pieces have ever been recovered.
The FBI believes that the Italian mob in Boston was behind the theft, with several members getting caught and others dying shortly after the heist, taking any knowledge of the paintings' whereabouts to their graves. The FBI has investigated several associates of the mobster Carmello Merlino, including David Turner, who claimed to have heard that the paintings were in a church in South Boston. However, Turner failed to recover them, and no one has come forward with credible information despite the reward.
While the paintings have not been found, Anthony Amore, the director of security and chief investigator at the Gardner Museum, believes that they are likely still in the US. He stated that "when you look at the history of art crime in America, the paintings don't travel far from the place where they're stolen." This theory is supported by the fact that there were reports of the paintings being shopped in Philadelphia years ago, indicating that they may have remained in the country but have changed hands multiple times.
The museum's commitment to recovering the stolen works has not diminished, and they continue to seek viable leads in collaboration with the FBI and the US Attorney's office. The investigation has faced challenges due to the potential involvement of criminal gangs and the lack of arrests or credible information, despite the substantial reward offered.
The paintings' continued absence and the lack of solid leads decades after the heist suggest that they may still be hidden or have been destroyed to avoid detection. The investigation remains ongoing, and the museum and authorities are hopeful that the paintings will be recovered, even if they have changed hands multiple times within the US.
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The Italian mob in Boston was suspected
On March 18, 1990, two men dressed as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and stole 13 pieces of artwork worth $200 million (now valued at $500 million). The pieces have never been recovered, and no arrests have been made. This remains the biggest art theft in history.
Turner was later arrested in 1999 in a sting operation and was told that if he returned the paintings, he would not be charged for the robbery. Despite his claims of innocence, the FBI believes he may have been one of the thieves. Another suspected thief is George Reissfelder, a friend and associate of Merlino, who died in 1991. Reissfelder and another known associate of Merlino, DiMuzio, were also investigated for their involvement.
Several organized crime members were excited about the prospect of trading a stolen painting for reduced jail time if they were caught doing other illegal activities. However, several of them were arrested, and no credible information about the artwork was provided. The $10 million reward for the return of the stolen pieces has also not yielded any results.
Theft of artwork was a known tactic of the Italian mob in Boston, or the Patriarca crime family, who profited from trafficking in stolen goods, among other illegal activities. The family was based in Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, and was led by Raymond Patriarca from 1954 until his death in 1984.
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Several suspects have died without revealing information
On March 18, 1990, 13 works of art were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The stolen works, including paintings by Rembrandt, Degas, and Vermeer, were valued at $200 million (now valued at $500 million), making it the biggest art theft in history. The mystery remains unsolved, and none of the pieces have ever been recovered.
Several suspects have died without revealing any information about the stolen paintings. One of the suspects, George Reissfelder, an associate of the Italian mob in Boston, died in July 1991. His siblings recalled a painting similar to one of the stolen paintings, Manet's "Chez Tortoni", in his bedroom. However, no clues were found in his apartment or the homes of his friends and relatives. Another suspect, David Turner, was investigated by the FBI in 1992 when a source revealed that he had access to the paintings. Turner claimed that the paintings were in a church in South Boston, but he failed to recover them. Despite Turner's claims of innocence, the FBI believes he may have been one of the thieves.
Criminal Bobby Donati, whose involvement in the heist was suspected, was murdered in 1991 during a gang war. Myles J. Connor Jr., a notorious New England art thief, claimed that Donati and criminal David Houghton were the masterminds behind the heist. Houghton died within two years of the robbery due to an illness. Another suspect, Carmello Merlino, died in prison in 2005.
Despite a $10 million reward offered by the museum for information leading to the recovery of the stolen works, no one has come forward with credible information. The museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office are still seeking viable leads in the hopes of recovering the stolen art.
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Frequently asked questions
No. None of the 13 paintings stolen from the Gardner Museum have been recovered. The museum is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen paintings.
The stolen paintings are valued at \$500 million. At the time of the theft in 1990, they were valued at $200 million.
The investigation into the Gardner Museum heist is still ongoing. The museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office are seeking viable leads that could result in the safe return of the stolen artwork.
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