What is known about the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist—the single largest property theft in the world.
81 MINUTES
In the early hours of March 18 a vehicle pulled up near the side entrance of the Museum. Two men in police uniforms pushed the Museum buzzer, stated they were responding to a disturbance, and requested to be let in. The guard on duty broke protocol and allowed them through the employee entrance. At the fake officers’ request he stepped away from the watch desk. He and a second security guard were handcuffed and tied up in the basement of the Museum. The thieves departed with 13 of the Gardner’s works of art 81 minutes later.
DUTCH ROOM
The Museum was equipped with motion detectors, so the thieves’ movements were recorded. The best known works of art were taken from the Dutch Room. They cut Rembrandt’s Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee and A Lady and Gentleman in Black from their frames; removed Vermeer’s The Concert and Flinck’s Landscape with an Obelisk from their frames; pulled an ancient Chinese bronze Gu, or beaker, from a table; and took a small self-portrait etching by Rembrandt from the side of a chest.
SHORT GALLERY & BLUE ROOM
In the Short Gallery, on the same floor as the Dutch Room, five Degas drawings and a bronze eagle finial were stolen. Manet’s Chez Tortoni was taken from the Blue Room. The thieves departed at 2:45 AM, after making two separate trips to their car with the artwork. The guards remained handcuffed until police arrived at 8:15 AM.
THE 13 STOLEN WORKS
INVESTIGATION
The return of the Gardner’s works remains a top priority. The Museum, the FBI, and the US Attorney's office are still seeking viable leads that could result in safe return of the art. The Museum is offering a $10 million dollar reward for information leading directly to the safe return of the stolen works. (A share of the reward would be given in exchange for information leading to the restitution of any portion of the works.) A separate reward of $100,000 is being offered for the return of the Napoleonic eagle finial. Anyone with information about the stolen artworks should contact Director of Security Anthony Amore at 617 278 5114 or reward@gardnermuseum.org. Confidentiality is assured.
EMPTY FRAMES
Today empty frames remain hanging in the Museum as a placeholder for the missing works and as symbols of hope awaiting their return.
