What Art Was Stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

What Was Taken and Key Facts at a Glance

On March 18, 1990, two thieves disguised as police officers stole 13 works of art from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The stolen items span paintings, drawings, and decorative arts, with combined insured estimates in the hundreds of millions of dollars. No arrests have been confirmed, and the museum continues to offer rewards for information. The following breakdown draws on official investigation disclosures, museum records, and law enforcement reports available through public sources.

Theft Details and Circumstances

In the early morning of March 18, 1990, a Boston police officer radio dispatch reported a disturbance. Two officers responding to the call gained entry to the museum, tied up the night guards, and left with 13 works. The heist remains one of the largest art thefts in U.S. history in terms of cultural significance and insured value. Despite numerous leads, none of the items have been recovered.

Stolen Artworks

Paintings

• The Concert by Johannes Vermeer (1664)
• The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt (1633)
• Landscape with an Obelisk by Rembrandt (1639)
• Chez Tortoni by Édouard Manet (c. 1878–1880)

Drawings and Decorative Arts

• Self-Portrait by Rembrandt (drawing, 1629/1630)
• Head of Christ by Rembrandt (drawing)
• The Finial from the French Imperial Crown
• Chinese Nymph with Cupid Japanese bronze teapot
• Two Chinese Wine Cups (Guangxu period)
• Crimson Cradle by Edgar Degas
• Grand Manner by Edwin Landseer

Investigations and Suspect Leads

Multiple investigations have pointed toward organized crime connections, particularly figures linked to the New England Irish mob. The FBI has named several persons of interest, and various raids over the decades have recovered a small number of items, such as a Chinese Gu vase in 2015, but the core collection remains missing. The Gardner Museum continues to collaborate with the FBI and Interpol to pursue credible leads.

Ongoing Museum and Public Efforts

The museum maintains active publicity around the theft, including a permanent display about the heist and an open reward for information leading to recovery. Law enforcement periodically releases new details intended to encourage witnesses or insiders to come forward. To date, these efforts have not resulted in the return of any stolen works.

Quick Reference: Stolen Items and Value