What Was the Largest Art Theft in US History?

Art|Art History

The greatest art theft in United States history was that of 13 pieces of artwork, valued at up to $500 million, stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts on March 18, 1990. The robbery remains unsolved today.

The thief or thieves were able to gain access to the museum by posing as police officers and convincing the two security guards on duty to let them in. Once inside, they tied up the guards and proceeded to take 13 pieces of artwork over a period of 81 minutes.

The stolen works included three Rembrandt paintings: “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee”, “A Lady and Gentleman in Black” and “A Portrait of a Man”; five Degas paintings including “The Concert”; a Manet painting titled “Chez Tortoni”; an ancient Chinese vase; a finial from Napoleon’s throne; and three sketches by Raphael and Flinck.

The FBI has conducted hundreds of interviews over the years, but no arrests have been made in connection with the heist. In 2013, authorities announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the recovery of all or part of the stolen artwork.

Conclusion:

The largest art theft in U.S. history occurred at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on March 18, 1990 when 13 pieces worth up to $500 million were stolen by unknown thieves who posed as police officers. Despite extensive investigation by the FBI, no arrests have ever been made and all 13 pieces remain unaccounted for today.