The Perfect Heist

One of the greatest private property crimes in the United States, and one of the most infamous art crimes in the entire world, the theft of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum remains one of the craziest heists to this day. 

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which was constructed in Boston in the late 19th century, was originally built for the sole purpose of housing the personal art collection of the museum’s namesake, Isabella Stewart Gardner. The museum was soon opened up to the public in 1903, but, in just under a century later, the value of the collection Gardner left behind would diminish by $500 million. 

On March 18th, 1990, two men disguised in Boston police uniforms approached the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, pretending to respond to a security call. Thinking that they were, in fact, police, the museum’s two security guards on patrol allowed the two thieves to enter the museum. The thieves then sprung into action, tying up the two guards and successfully immobilizing them. Within 90 minutes, the duo had made off with thirteen priceless works of art, which were:

Vermeer’s "The Concert"

Rembrandt’s "A Lady and Gentleman in Black"

Rembrandt’s "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee"

Rembrandt’s "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee"

Rembrandt’s "Self Portrait"

Govaert Flinck’s "Landscape with an Obelisk"

A Shang Dynasty Chinese Bronze Beaker

Degas' "La Sortie du Pelage"

Degas' "Cortège Aux Environs de Florence"

Degas' "Three Mounted Jockeys"

Degas' "Program for an Artistic Soiree" 

Degas' "Program for an Artistic Soiree" (a second, less finished version)

Manet’s "Chez Tortoni"

Napoleonic Eagle Finial

Combined, the total estimated value comes out to about $500 million, so the FBI was on the case. But, the Bureau quickly encountered one major problem: the culprits left behind very little clues. It was only until 25 years later that the FBI was confident that they had figured out the identities of the two thieves, narrowing down their list of suspects to George Reissfelder and Lenny DiMuzio. Both Reissfelder and DiMuzio belonged to the crew of crime boss Carmello Merlino, but what was odd was that both had died within the same year of the heist. Without really any more leads to go off of, the FBI was met with a dead end, and all thirteen stolen artworks still remain missing today—thirty years later. Even with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum offering $10 million for any information, the paintings remain in hiding, hinting at the possibility that they may never be seen by the public eye again. 

https://www.wbur.org/artery/2020/03/18/30-years-isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-heist-toll-endures
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/gardner-museum-doubles-reward-10m-970745
https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-show-unsolved-art-heist-boston-500-million-2020-3