Rembrandt's "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" was one of 13 artworks stolen from Boston's <a target="_blank" target="_blank">Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum</a> in 1990, which still haven't been found. Check out the gallery for other valuable stolen artworks that authorities have yet to track down.
"The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" (1633) by Rembrandt —
Rembrandt's "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee" was one of 13 artworks stolen from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990, which still haven't been found. Check out the gallery for other valuable stolen artworks that authorities have yet to track down.
Courtesy Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
The Ghent Altarpiece is the most frequently stolen artwork in history, having been stolen (all or in part) six times over a period of more than 600 years. Of the twelve panels that comprise the enormous altarpiece, one is still missing. Referred to as the "Righteous Judges" panel, it was stolen from the cathedral of St. Bavo in Ghent, Belgium in 1934. The theft was designed by Arsene Goedetier, a middle-aged stockbroker active in the cathedral community. He was not the actual thief, but designed the theft based on the plot of one of his favorite books, "The Hollow Needle" by Maurice LeBlanc. After many false leads and a protracted, failed attempt to ransom the panel back to the bishopric, it remains missing.
The Ghent Altarpiece (1432) by Jan van Eyck —
The Ghent Altarpiece is the most frequently stolen artwork in history, having been stolen (all or in part) six times over a period of more than 600 years. Of the twelve panels that comprise the enormous altarpiece, one is still missing. Referred to as the "Righteous Judges" panel, it was stolen from the cathedral of St. Bavo in Ghent, Belgium in 1934. The theft was designed by Arsene Goedetier, a middle-aged stockbroker active in the cathedral community. He was not the actual thief, but designed the theft based on the plot of one of his favorite books, "The Hollow Needle" by Maurice LeBlanc. After many false leads and a protracted, failed attempt to ransom the panel back to the bishopric, it remains missing.
Cathédrale de Saint Bavon
Caravaggio's "Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence" was stolen in 1969 from a church in Palermo by members of Cosa Nostra. It has never been recovered. Its theft prompted the foundation of the world's first dedicated art recovery police unit, called Tutela Patrimonio Culturale, or the Division for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. A mafia informant claimed that the Caravaggio was damaged in an earthquake and fed to pigs, but one hopes this is not the case.
"Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence" (1609) by Caravaggio —
Caravaggio's "Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence" was stolen in 1969 from a church in Palermo by members of Cosa Nostra. It has never been recovered. Its theft prompted the foundation of the world's first dedicated art recovery police unit, called Tutela Patrimonio Culturale, or the Division for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. A mafia informant claimed that the Caravaggio was damaged in an earthquake and fed to pigs, but one hopes this is not the case.
DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH
"Portrait of a Young Man" is one of an estimated 5 million cultural heritage objects thought to have changed hands illegally during the Second World War. The masterpiece was taken from the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow in 1939, and destined for Hitler's home in Berlin. There it hung until 1945, when a Nazi official, Hans Frank, moved all of the paintings from Hitler's home to Wawel Castle in Krakow. It has not been seen since.
"Portrait of a Young Man" (1514) by Raphael —
"Portrait of a Young Man" is one of an estimated 5 million cultural heritage objects thought to have changed hands illegally during the Second World War. The masterpiece was taken from the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow in 1939, and destined for Hitler's home in Berlin. There it hung until 1945, when a Nazi official, Hans Frank, moved all of the paintings from Hitler's home to Wawel Castle in Krakow. It has not been seen since.
Courtesy Polish Ministry of Culture, Art and National Heritage
Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum was burgled of its only Cezanne painting on Dec. 31, 1999. The sound of the break-in was masked because it was timed during a New Year's Eve fireworks display.
"Auvers-sur-Oise" (1879-1882) by Paul Cezanne —
Oxford University's Ashmolean Museum was burgled of its only Cezanne painting on Dec. 31, 1999. The sound of the break-in was masked because it was timed during a New Year's Eve fireworks display.
Courtesy WIKIMEDIA
Among many works stolen from the Rotterdam Kunsthal in October 2012, one can find Monet's "Waterloo Bridge, London" and "Charing Cross Bridge, London." The mother of one of the thieves claimed to have burned the stolen paintings in an attempt to hide the evidence, but hope remains that this is not the case.
"Charing Cross Bridge, London" (1901) by Claude Monet —
Among many works stolen from the Rotterdam Kunsthal in October 2012, one can find Monet's "Waterloo Bridge, London" and "Charing Cross Bridge, London." The mother of one of the thieves claimed to have burned the stolen paintings in an attempt to hide the evidence, but hope remains that this is not the case.
Courtesy Politie Rotterdam
Hitler's favorite painting was "The Poor Poet" by Carl Spitzweg, a somewhat kitschy romantic painting that has one of art theft's most bizarre and serpentine stories. It was famously stolen in 1976 by the performance artist Ulay, who took it from the National Gallery in Berlin and hung it on the wall in the home of a poor, immigrant Turkish family as part of what he called a "political action." He immediately phoned the museum and turned himself in, explaining that he did this as a form of political protest. The painting was returned, but it was stolen again in 1989 (not by Ulay), and it has never been recovered.
"The Poor Poet" (1839) by Carl Spitzweg —
Hitler's favorite painting was "The Poor Poet" by Carl Spitzweg, a somewhat kitschy romantic painting that has one of art theft's most bizarre and serpentine stories. It was famously stolen in 1976 by the performance artist Ulay, who took it from the National Gallery in Berlin and hung it on the wall in the home of a poor, immigrant Turkish family as part of what he called a "political action." He immediately phoned the museum and turned himself in, explaining that he did this as a form of political protest. The painting was returned, but it was stolen again in 1989 (not by Ulay), and it has never been recovered.
Courtesy Web Gallery of Art
Thousands of illegally excavated archaeological objects have emerged from conflict zones in the Middle East over the last few years, with ISIS most overtly financing their activities through illicit trade in antiquities. While it is difficult to trace the sales of individual objects excavated in ISIS-occupied territories, it is thought that millions have been made through this dark art trade.
Stolen antiquities of the Middle East —
Thousands of illegally excavated archaeological objects have emerged from conflict zones in the Middle East over the last few years, with ISIS most overtly financing their activities through illicit trade in antiquities. While it is difficult to trace the sales of individual objects excavated in ISIS-occupied territories, it is thought that millions have been made through this dark art trade.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A 1727 violin by famed luthier Antonio Stradviari was stolen in October 1995 from 91-year-old violinist Erica Morini's New York apartment. Stradivarius instruments have a habit of being stolen, and are each worth in the low millions, this one valued at $3 million.
1727 Stradviari violin —
A 1727 violin by famed luthier Antonio Stradviari was stolen in October 1995 from 91-year-old violinist Erica Morini's New York apartment. Stradivarius instruments have a habit of being stolen, and are each worth in the low millions, this one valued at $3 million.
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