Art Theft Most Famous Cases in History
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Art Theft: Most Famous Cases in History
Summary
A look at some of history's most notorious art thefts, including the heists of the Mona Lisa and The Scream.---
Art theft is a complex and age-old crime, often involving intricate schemes by art dealers, forgers, and criminals seeking hefty ransoms and enormous profits. Here’s a glimpse into some of the most iconic art heists throughout history.
The First Documented Art Theft
The earliest recorded case of art theft occurred in 1473. Two panels from Hans Memling’s altarpiece, "The Last Judgment," were stolen while being shipped from the Netherlands to Florence. Pirates intercepted the vessel and took the artwork to the Gdańsk Cathedral in Poland. Today, these pieces reside in the National Museum in Gdańsk.The Most Famous Art Heist
Perhaps the most well-known art theft involved Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. On August 21, 1911, the painting vanished from the Louvre. Surprisingly, Pablo Picasso was initially questioned by police but was quickly cleared.The painting remained missing for two years until it was revealed that Vincenzo Peruggia, a museum employee, had hidden the 30 x 21 inch masterpiece under his coat and walked out with it. Peruggia acted in concert with Eduardo de Valfierno, a notorious conman, who planned to sell fakes of the painting. Meanwhile, Peruggia kept the original hidden in his apartment. After two years of silence from de Valfierno, Peruggia attempted to sell the art in Florence and was ultimately caught. The Mona Lisa returned to the Louvre in 1913.
The Largest Art Theft in the U.S.
The biggest art theft in U.S. history occurred at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on March 18, 1990. Thieves disguised as police officers infiltrated the museum and stole 13 pieces valued at around $300 million. The haul included works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet, and Degas, as well as several artifacts.Despite ongoing investigations, the artwork remains missing. Recent speculations suggest possible involvement by the Boston Mob and French art dealers.
The Scream
Edvard Munch’s "The Scream" has proven particularly irresistible to art thieves, having been stolen twice. In 1994, during the Lillehammer Winter Olympics, two burglars broke into an Oslo gallery, leaving a taunting note: “Thanks for the poor security.”Three months later, these thieves demanded a $1 million ransom from the Norwegian government. The government refused, but a collaboration between Norwegian and British police, along with the Getty Museum, led to a successful sting operation, recovering the painting.
Ten years later it was stolen again, this time from the Munch Museum. The robbers, armed this time, also took another of Munch’s works. While museum officials anticipated a ransom demand, rumors circulated that both paintings were destroyed to erase evidence. Fortunately, the Norwegian police recovered the paintings on August 31, 2006, though the details of their recovery remain undisclosed.
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These stories of audacious heists highlight not only the value of art but also the lengths to which people will go to possess it.
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