Art theft is the stealing of high-profile art. This is usually done for the purpose of resale or ransom; occasionally thieves are also commissioned by dedicated private collectors. The Bath, a painting by Mary Cassatt (1844-1926). ... The term ransom refers to the practice of holding a prisoner to extort money or property extorted to secure their release, or to the sum of money involved. ...

Masked thieves carrying stolen paintings from the Munch Museum in Oslo, August 2004

Image File history File links Munch_Scream_Thieves_2004. ... Image File history File links Munch_Scream_Thieves_2004. ... Self portrait, 1895 Edvard Munch (Løten, December 12, 1863 - Ekely (near Oslo), January 23, 1944) was a Norwegian Expressionist painter and printmaker. ... County Oslo NO-03 District Viken Municipality NO-0301 Administrative centre Oslo Mayor (2004) Per Ditlev-Simonsen (H) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 224 454 km² 426 km² 0. ...

Individual theft

Many thieves are motivated by the fact that reasonably valuable art pieces are worth millions of dollars and weigh only a few kilograms, at most. Transportation is also trivial, assuming the thief is willing to inflict some damage to the painting by cutting it off the frame and rolling it up into a tube carrier. While most high-profile museums have extremely tight security, many places hosting multimillion dollar works have disproportionately poor security measures^{[citation needed]}. That makes them susceptible to thefts that are slightly more complicated than a typical smash-and-grab, but with huge payoff. However, because the ownership of high profile art is easily tracked, potential buyers are very hard to find. Typically, a thief will steal a work, only to find out that there are no buyers. For the same reason, the stolen piece cannot be put on display publicly, which essentially defeats the purpose of having it. Unfortunately, while no thief can hope to get the actual value of the stolen work, even as little as 5% of the real value can be worthwhile for the thief. Most art is resold at auction houses; major reputable houses such as Sotheby's or Christie's demand proof of art ownership before listing. Many lost art pieces that become found and sold at auction have later been exposed as forgery or imitation. This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: spamvertising If you disagree with its speedy deletion, please explain why on its talk page or at Wikipedia:Speedy deletions. ... PR shot of Sothebys New York, from auditions for The Apprentice 2  It should be possible to replace this fair use image with a freely licensed one. ... Christies Auction Room in London circa 1808. ... Forgery is the process of making or adapting objects or documents (see false document), with the intention to deceive. ... Imitation is an advanced animal behaviour whereby an individual observes anothers behaviour and replicates it itself. ...

A likely scenario in famous art theft is "theft for hire" or similar situations in which buyers have already been found. Some buyers may enjoy possessing famous art secretly. Fossil theft is an easier form of purchase as identification techniques are not as well established as art theft.

State theft, wartime looting and misappropriation by museums

Because antiquities are often regarded by the country of origin as national treasures, there are numerous cases where artworks (often displayed in the acquiring country for decades) have become the subject of highly charged and political controversy. One prominent example is the case of the Elgin Marbles, which were removed from Greece to the British Museum in 1816 by Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin. Many different Greek governments have maintained that removal was tantamount to theft. --88. ... The British Museum in London is one of the worlds greatest museums of human history and culture. ... Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and 11th Earl of Kincardine (July 20, 1766 - November 14, 1841) was a British nobleman and diplomat, known for the removal of marble sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens -- popularly known as the Elgin Marbles. ...

Similar controversies have arisen over Etruscan, Aztec and Italian artworks, with advocates of the originating countries generally alleging that the removal of artifacts is a pernicious form of cultural imperialism. Yale University's Peabody Museum of Natural History is engaged (as of November 2006) in talks with the government of Peru about possible repatriation of artifacts taken during the excavation of Machu Picchu by Yale's Hiram Bingham. Map showing the extent of the Etruscan civilization and the twelve Etruscan League cities. ... The Aztecs is a term used for certain Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican peoples of central México. ... Cultural imperialism is the practice of promoting, distinguishing, separating, artificially injecting of the culture or language of one nation in another. ... “Yale” redirects here. ... The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University was founded by the philanthropist George Peabody in 1866 at the behest of his nephew Othniel Charles Marsh, the early paleontologist. ... Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Piqchu Old Peak; sometimes called the Lost City of the Incas) is a well-preserved pre-Columbian Inca ruin located at 2,430 m (7,970 ft)[1] on a mountain ridge. ... Hiram Bingham is the name of several people. ...

In 2006, New York's Metropolitan Museum reached an agreement with Italy to return many disputed pieces. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles is also involved in a series of cases of this nature. The artwork in question is of Greek and ancient Italian origin. The museum agreed on 20 November 2006 to return 26 contested pieces to Italy. One of the Getty's signature pieces, a statue of the goddess Aphrodite, is the subject of particular scrutiny (as described in this story from the Los Angeles Times.) There is also the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), located in Manhattan. ... Illicit antiquities are artefacts of archaeological interest, found in illegal or unregulated excavations, and traded covertly. ... View of a building at the Getty Center, from the Central Garden. ... Marion True (b. ... The Birth of Venus, (detail) by Sandro Botticelli, 1485 Aphrodite (Greek: Ἀφροδίτη; Latin: Venus) (IPA: English: , Ancient Greek: , Modern Greek: ) is the classical Greek goddess of love, lust, and beauty. ...

From 1933 through the end of World War II, the Nazi regime maintained a policy of looting art for sale or for removal to museums in the Third Reich. Hermann Goering, head of the Luftwaffe, personally took charge of hundreds of valuable pieces, generally stolen from Jews and other victims of genocide. Members of the families of the original owners of these artworks have, in many cases, persisted in claiming title to their pre-war property. In 2006, title to the gilt painting Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, was restored to Maria Altmann, an heir of the prewar owner. Provenance in this case was easy to establish; Bloch Bauer, the subject of the painting, was Altmann's aunt. Altmann almost immediately sold the painting at auction and it was resold to Ronald Lauder for $135 million. At the time of the latter sale this was the highest known price ever paid for a painting. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... National Socialism redirects here. ... Nazi plunder stored in a church at Elligen, Germany, 1945 Nazi plunder refers to art theft and other items stolen as a result of the organized spoliation of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. ... Hermann Göring Hermann Wilhelm Göring (also spelled Hermann Goering in English) (January 12, 1893–October 15, 1946) was a prominent and early member of the Nazi party, founder of the Gestapo, and one of the main architects of Nazi Germany. ... This or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Genocide is the mass killing of a group of people as defined by Article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) as any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or... Looted art is a term used most commonly to refer to artwork looted by the Nazis during World War II[1][2][3] in Europe, however the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum does not reduce the concept of Looted art to the Nazis alone: The Herald Times even claims: Napoleon... Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I is a painting by Gustav Klimt completed in 1907. ... Gustav Klimt, 1902 Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918) was an Austrian Symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Art Nouveau (Vienna Secession) movement. ... Maria Altmann (born 1916 in Austria) is a woman currently living in the US state of California. ... Ronald Steven Lauder (born February 26, 1944 in New York City) is an American businessman, civic leader, philanthropist, and art collector. ...

Famous cases of art theft

Last Judgment triptych by Memling (1473)

A highlight of Early Netherlandish painting was stolen several centuries prior to the later theft of two panels from the Ghent Altarpiece in 1934: Hans Memling's Last Judgment altarpiece was commissioned in 1467, and was to become the central art piece in a de'Medici chapel in Florence. The ship transporting the painting in 1473 was looted by a "pious" pirate, offering the painting to the Gdansk cathedral. Although authenticity is undoubted, the story is plainly documented, and the now priceless painting is one of Memling's greatest masterpieces, some catalogues of the painter's work scarcely mention it. Negotiations with the city of Gdansk to restore the theft keep failing. Nonetheless, the triptych was temporarily shown at a Memling exhibition in Bruges, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the painter's death. The case is famous because it allotted the receivers of the stolen goods not only the profit of owning the art work, but also the profit of copyright-like earnings (e.g. when lending it for expositions or photography), without needing to make any expense for hiding its whereabouts, over an extended period. Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and Wife by Jan van Eyck. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The whole of Memlings Day of Judgement The Last Judgement found in the National Museum in Gdansk in Poland is a triptych attributed to Hans Memling and was painted between 1467 and 1471. ... Events October 29 - Battle of Brusthem: Charles the Bold defeats Liege Beginning of the Sengoku Period in Japan. ... The Medici coat of arms The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Events Ottoman sultan Mehmed II defeats the White Sheep Turkmens lead by Uzun Hasan at Otlukbeli Axayacatl, Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan invades the territory of neighboring Aztec city of Tlatelolco. ... Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For alternative meanings of Gdańsk and Danzig, see Gdansk (disambiguation) and Danzig (disambiguation) Motto: Nec temere, nec timide (Neither rashly nor timidly) Voivodship Pomeranian Municipal government Rada miasta Gdańska Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Area 262 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 461 400 (2003) Ranked 6th 1... The Raising of the Cross, Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp A triptych (from the Greek tri- three + ptychÄ“ fold) is a work of art (usually a panel painting) which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together. ... Geography Country Belgium Region Flemish Region Community Flemish Community Province West Flanders Arrondissement Bruges Coordinates Area 138. ...

Gainsborough's The Duchess of Devonshire (1878)

In 1878, burglar Adam Worth stole Gainsborough's The Duchess of Devonshire from London art dealers Agnew & Agnew which he used to negotiate the release of an accomplice from prison. However, as Worth's friend had already been freed, he demanded a ransom instead, which would finally be negotiated for an undisclosed amount in 1901. Adam Worth (1844-1902) was a German-born gentleman criminal. ...

The Mona Lisa (1911)

Perhaps the most famous case of art theft occurred on August 21, 1911, when the Mona Lisa was stolen out of the Louvre. It would be two years before it was recovered. French poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who had once called for the Louvre to be "burnt down", was arrested and put in jail on suspicion of theft. His friend Pablo Picasso was brought in for questioning, but both were later released.^{[citation needed]} August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Mona Lisa, or La Gioconda (La Joconde), is a 16th century oil painting on poplar wood by Leonardo da Vinci, and is one of the most famous paintings in the world. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Guillaume Apollinaire Guillaume Apollinaire (August 26, 1880 – November 9, 1918) was a poet, writer, and art critic. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Pablo Ruiz Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. ...

At the time, the painting was believed to be lost forever. It turned out that Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia stole it by simply walking out the door with it hidden under his coat. The theft was master-minded by Eduardo de Valfierno, a con-man who had commissioned the French art forger Yves Chaudron to make copies of the painting so he could sell them as the missing original. Because he didn't need the original for his con, he never contacted Peruggia again after the crime. After having kept the painting in his apartment for two years, Peruggia grew impatient and was finally caught when he attempted to sell it to a Florence art dealer; it was exhibited all over Italy and returned to the Louvre in 1913. Vincenzo Peruggia, the man who stole the Mona Lisa in 1911 (police photograph) Vincenzo Peruggia (1881 - 1947) is the man who stole the Mona Lisa. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Yves Chaudron was an art forger who copied images of the Mona Lisa. ... Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Panels from the Ghent Altarpiece (1934)

Two panels of the fifteenth century Ghent Altarpiece, painted by the brothers Jan and Hubert Van Eyck were stolen in 1934, of which only one was recovered shortly after the theft. The other one (lower left of the opened altarpiece, known as De Rechtvaardige Rechters i.e. The Just Judges), has never been recovered, as the presumable thief (Arsène Goedertier), who had sent some anonymous letters asking for ransom, died before revealing the whereabouts of the painting. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... Opened view of the polyptych Closed view The Ghent Altarpiece or Adoration of the Mystic Lamb (Dutch: Het Lam Gods or The Lamb of God) (completed 1432) is a very large and complex polyptych panel painting which used to be in the Joost Vijdt chapel at Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent... Portrait of a Man in a Turban (actually a chaperon), probably a self-portrait, painted 1433 Jan van Eyck or Johannes de Eyck (c. ... Hubert van Eyck (also Huybrecht van Eyck) (?1366 — 1426) was a Flemish painter and older brother of Jan van Eyck. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Copy of the Just Judges by Jef Vanderveken The Just Judges is the lower left panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, commonly attributed to Jan Van Eyck and his brother Hubert Van Eyck. ...

Nazi theft and looting of Europe during the Second World War (1939-1945)

The Nazi plundering of artworks was carried out by the Reichsleiter Rosenberg Institute for the Occupied Territories (Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg für die Besetzen Gebiete). In occupied France, the Jeu de Paume Art Museum in Paris was used as a central storage and sorting depot for looted artworks from museums and private art collections throughout France pending distribution to various persons and places in Germany. The Nazis confiscated tens of thousands of works from their legitimate Jewish owners. Some were confiscated by the Allies at the end of the war. Many ended up in the hands of respectable collectors and institutions. Nazi plunder stored in a church at Elligen, Germany, 1945 Nazi plunder refers to art theft and other items stolen as a result of the organized spoliation of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. ... The Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume is a museum of contemporary art in the north-west corner of the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ... A museum normally has a collection of often unique objects that forms the core of its activities for exhibitions, education, research, etc. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Jewish ownership of some of the art was codified into the Geneva conventions. Development of the Geneva Conventions from 1864 to 1949. ...

Quedlinburg medieval artifacts (1945)

In 1945, an American soldier and former art teacher Joe Meandor stole 12 medieval artifacts found in a cave near Quedlinburg which had been hidden by local members of the clergy from Nazi looters in 1943. Quedlinburg is a town located near the Harz mountains, in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. ...

Returning to the United States, the artifacts remained in Meandor's possession until his death in 1980. He made no attempt to sell them. When his older brothers attempted to sell a 9th century manuscript and 16th century prayerbook from Meandor's collection in 1996, the two were arrested. However, the charges were dismissed after it was declared the statute of limitations had expired. A statute of limitations is a statute in a common law legal system that sets forth the maximum period of time, after certain events, that legal proceedings based on those events may be initiated. ...

Alfred Stieglitz Gallery (1946)

Three paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe were stolen while on display at the art gallery of her husband, Alfred Stieglitz. The paintings were eventually found by O'Keeffe following their purchase by the Princeton Gallery of Fine Arts for $35,000 in 1975. Georgia Totto OKeeffe (November 15, 1887—March 6, 1986) was an American artist. ...

O'Keeffe sued the Museum for their return and, despite a six-year statute of limitations on art theft, a state appellate court ruled in her favor on July 27, 1979. July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... For the song by the Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ...

University of Michigan (1967)

Sketches by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and British sculptor Henry Moore, valued at $200,000, were stolen while on display in a travelling art exhibit organized by the University of Michigan. The sketches were eventually found by federal agents in a California auction house on January 24, 1969, although no arrests were made. Pablo Ruiz Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. ... Reclining Figure (1951) outside the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, is characteristic of Moores sculptures, with an abstract female figure intercut with voids. ... The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (UM, U of M or U-M) is a coeducational public research university in the state of Michigan. ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ...

Izmur Archaeology Museum (1969)

Various artifacts and other art worth $5 million were stolen from the Izmur Archaeology Museum in Istanbul, Turkey on July 24, 1969 (during which a night watchmen was killed by the unidentified thieves). Turkish police soon arrested a German citizen who, at the time of his arrest on August 1, had 128 stolen items in his car. This article needs cleanup. ... July 24 is the 205th day (206th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 160 days remaining. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ...

Stephen Hahn Art Gallery (1969)

Art thieves stole seven paintings, including works by Cassett, Monet, Pissarro and Rouault, from art dealer Stephen Hahn's Madison Avenue art gallery at an estimated value of $500,000 on the night of November 17, 1969. Ironically, Stephen Hahn had been discussing art theft with other art dealers as the theft was taking place. 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ...

Looting of Cypriot Orthodox Churches following the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus

Following the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 by Turkey, and the occupation of the northern part of the island churches belonging to the Cypriot Orthodox Church have been looted in what is described as "…one of the most systematic examples of the looting of art since World War II".^[1] Several high profile cases have made headline news on the international scene. Most notable was the case of the Kanakaria mosaics, 6th century AD frescos that were removed from the original church, trafficked to the USA and offered for sale to a museum for the sum of US$20,000,000.^[2] These were subsequently recovered by the Orthodox Church following a court case in Indianapolis.^[3] Combatants  Turkey  Cyprus Greek military junta The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, referred as the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation by Turkey was a military action against the island nation of Cyprus by Turkey that resulted in the partition of the Republic of Cyprus. ... The ancient Church of Cyprus is one of the fourteen or fifteen independent (autocephalous) Eastern Orthodox churches, which are in communion and in doctrinal agreement with one another but not all subject to one patriarch. ...

The Gardner Museum (1990)

The largest art theft in U.S. history occurred in Boston on March 18, 1990 when thieves stole 12 paintings, collectively worth $300 million, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. This included Vermeer's The Concert and three Rembrandts (including his only seascape The Storm on the Sea of Galilee). To date, these paintings have not been recovered. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Nickname: City on the Hill, Beantown, The Hub (of the Universe)1, Athens of America, The Cradle of Revolution, Puritan City, Americas Walking City Location in Massachusetts, USA Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas M. Menino(D) Area    - City 232. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ... The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a museum in Boston, Massachusetts with a collection of over 2,500 works of European, Asian and American art, including paintings, sculpture, tapestries, and decorative arts. ... View of Delft, 1660-1661 Johannes Vermeer (1632 - December 15, 1675) was a Dutch painter. ...

Mather Brown's Thomas Jefferson (1994)

While being stored in preparation to be reproduced, the portrait of Thomas Jefferson painted by artist Mather Brown in 1786, was stolen from a Boston warehouse on July 28, 1994. Authorities apprehended the thieves and recovered the painting on May 24, 1996 following a protracted FBI investigation. Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... Mather Brown (christened October 11, 1761–May 25, 1831) was a portrait and historical painter, born in Boston, Massachusetts but active in England. ... July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ...

Cooperman Art Theft hoax (1999)

In July 1999, Los Angeles ophthalmologist Steven Cooperman was convicted of insurance fraud for arranging the theft of two paintings, a Picasso and a Monet, from his home in an attempt to collect $17.5 million in insurance.

The National Museum of Fine Art (Nationalmuseum), Stockholm, Sweden (2000–2005)

One Rembrandt and two Renoirs were stolen from The National Museum of Fine Art in Stockholm, Sweden, when three armed thieves broke into the museum and were able to flee in a boat moored in front of the museum. By 2001 the police had recovered one Renoir, by March of 2005 they had recovered the second Renoir in Los Angeles and in September they recovered the Rembrandt in sting operation in a Copenhagen hotel.

Stephane Breitwieser - The "Art Collector" (c. 2001)

Stephane Breitwieser admitted to stealing 238 artworks and other exhibits from museums travelling around Europe; his motive was to build a vast personal collection. In January of 2005, Breitwieser was given a 26-month prison sentence. Unfortunately, over 60 paintings, including masterpieces by Brueghel, Watteau, Francois Boucher, and Corneille de Lyon were chopped up by Breitwieser's mother, Mireille Stengel, who appeared to be unaware of the value of the works that she destroyed. Stephane Breitwieser (born 1971) is a French art thief who admitted to stealing 239 artworks and other exhibits from museums worth an estimated US$1. ... Brueghel or Bruegel was the name of several Flemish painters from the same family line: Pieter Brueghel the Elder (c. ... Jean-Antoine Watteau (October 10, 1684 - July 18, 1721) was a French painter. ... Rinaldo and Armida gained Bouchers admission to the Académie royale François Boucher (1703 in Bordeaux - May 30, 1770) was a French painter, a proponent of Rococo taste, known for his idyllic and voluptuous paintings on classical themes, decorative allegories representing the arts or pastoral occupations, and several... Corneille de Lyon was a painter born in The Netherlands in the early 1500s. ...

Russborough House (1974, 1986, 2001, 2002)

Russborough House, the Irish estate of the late Sir Alfred Beit, has been robbed four times since 1974. Irish Palladianism. ... Sir Alfred Lane Beit, 2nd Baronet (1903–1994[1]) was a British conservative politician, art collector and philanthropist and honorary Irish citizen. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

In 1974, members of the IRA bound and gagged the Beits, making off with nineteen paintings worth an estimated £8 million. A deal to exchange the paintings for prisoners was offered, but the paintings were recovered after a raid on a rented cottage in Cork, and those responsible were caught and imprisoned. This article is about the historical army of the self-proclaimed Irish Republic (1919–1922) which fought in the Irish War of Independence 1919–21, and the Irish Civil War 1922–23. ... Statistics Province: Munster County Town: Cork Code: C (CK proposed) Area: 7,457 km² Population (2006) 480,909 (including City of Cork); 361,766 (without Cork City) Website: www. ...

In 1986, a Dublin gang lead by Martin Cahill stole eighteen paintings worth an estimated £30 million in total. Sixteen paintings were subsequently recovered, with a further two still missing to this day (2006). 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... Martin Cahill, (May 23, 1949 – August 18, 1994) was a prominent Irish criminal. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Two paintings worth an estimated £3 million were stolen by three armed men in 2001. One of these, a Gainsborough had been previously stolen by Cahill's gang. Both paintings were recovered in September 2002. Self-portrait, painted 1759 Thomas Gainsborough (May 14, 1727 (baptised) – August 2, 1788) was one of the most famous portrait and landscape painters of 18th century Britain. ...

A mere two to three days after the recovery of the two paintings stolen in 2001, the house was robbed for the fourth time, with five paintings taken. These paintings were recovered in December 2002 during a search of a house in Clondalkin. Clondalkin (Cluain Dolcáin in Irish, meaning Dolcans meadow) is a town/suburb and parish 10 km west of Dublin City, Ireland, situated in South County Dublin. ...

Frankfurt art theft and "Operation Cobalt" (1994-2003)

Three paintings were stolen from a German gallery in 1994, two of them belonging to the Tate Gallery in London. In 1998, Tate conceived of Operation Cobalt, the secret buyback of the paintings from the thieves. The paintings were recovered in 2000 and 2002, resulting in a profit of several million pounds for Tate, because of prior insurance payments. See Frankfurt art theft (1994). The Tate Gallery in the United Kingdom is a network of four galleries: Tate Britain (opened 1897), Tate Liverpool (1988), Tate St Ives (1993), Tate Modern (2000), with a complementary website Tate Online (1998). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Three famous paintings were stolen from a Frankfurt art gallery in 1994. ...

Edvard Munch works (1994, 2004, and 2005)

In 1994, Edvard Munch's The Scream was stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway, and held for ransom. It was recovered later in the year. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... Edvard Munchs Tomb, Oslo, Norway Edvard Munch (IPA: , December 12, 1863 – January 23, 1944) was a Norwegian Symbolist painter, printmaker, and an important forerunner of Expressionistic art. ... An agonized figure is depicted against a blood red Oslofjord skyline in Edvard Munchs Scream (1893), National Gallery, Oslo. ... County Oslo NO-03 District Viken Municipality NO-0301 Administrative centre Oslo Mayor (2004) Per Ditlev-Simonsen (H) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 224 454 km² 426 km² 0. ...

On 22 August 2004, another original of The Scream was stolen—Munch painted several versions of The Scream—together with Munch's Madonna. This time the thieves targeted the version held by the Munch Museum, from where the two paintings were stolen at gunpoint and during opening hours. Both paintings were recovered on 31 August 2006. Three men have already been convicted, but the gunmen remain at large. If caught, they could face up to eight years in prison.^[4] August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An agonized figure is depicted against a blood red Oslofjord skyline in Edvard Munchs Scream (1893), National Gallery, Oslo. ... Edvard Munchs Madonna Madonna is a famous painting by the Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch. ... Self portrait, 1895 Edvard Munch (Løten, December 12, 1863 - Ekely (near Oslo), January 23, 1944) was a Norwegian Expressionist painter and printmaker. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

On 6 March 2005, three more Munch paintings were stolen from a hotel in Norway, including Blue Dress, and were recovered the next day.^[5] On 31 August 2006, 'The Scream' and 'The Madonna' were recovered relatively undamaged.^[6] March 6 is the 65th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (66th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Saliera

Benvenuto Cellini's Saliera

On May 11, 2003, Benvenuto Cellini's Saliera was stolen from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, which was covered by a scaffolding at that time due to reconstruction works. On January 21, 2006 the Saliera was recovered by the Austrian police. Image File history File links Cellini02. ... Image File history File links Cellini02. ... Gold Salt cellar by Cellini Benvenuto Cellini (November 3, 1500 – February 13, 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, painter, sculptor, soldier and musician of the Renaissance. ... May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (132nd in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gold Salt cellar by Cellini Benvenuto Cellini (November 3, 1500 – February 13, 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, painter, sculptor, soldier and musician of the Renaissance. ... Benvenuto Cellinis Saliera Saliera is Italian for salt cellar (i. ... Kunsthistorisches Museum at Maria-Theresien-Platz, Vienna. ... Vienna (German: , see also other names) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... This article is about the temporary framework. ...

Jacob de Gheyn III

Rembrandt's Jacob de Gheyn III has been taken four times, making it the world's most stolen painting. Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (July 15, 1606– October 4, 1669) is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. ... Jacob de Gheyn III, also known as Jacob III de Gheyn, is a 1632 oil painting by Rembrandt. ...

Relative Value[2] (2007)

Jan Christensen's collage on canvas was vandalised and stolen Sunday morning February 25, 2007, from Galleri MGM[3] in Oslo, Norway. The canvas was cut down from the stretchers and taken away from the gallery where the work was on display. The artwork had seen critical attention and stirred debate due to the nature of the work consisting of real bank notes glued onto the canvas.

Recovery

The Art Loss Register (ALR) was formed in 1991 in London by a partnership of leading international auction houses and art trade associations, the insurance industry, and the International Foundation for Art Research. Its shareholders include Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams, Phillips de Pury & Company, and others. It is the world's largest database of stolen art and antiques dedicated to their recovery. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Christies Auction Room in London circa 1808. ... PR shot of Sothebys New York, from auditions for The Apprentice 2  It should be possible to replace this fair use image with a freely licensed one. ... Bonhams is a privately-owned British auction house founded in 1793. ... Phillips, de Pury & Company is an auction house and art dealership, with offices in New York, London, Geneva, Berlin, Brusseles, Los Angeles, Milan, Munich and Paris. ...

The portrayal of art theft in popular media

Fictional art thefts are often portrayed in the media as glamorous and exciting. These are often in the category of crime fiction or caper story. Sherlock Holmes, pipe-puffing hero of crime fiction, confers with his colleague Dr. Watson; together these characters popularized the genre. ... The caper story is a subgenre of crime fiction. ...

Literature

There is a niche of the mystery genre that is devoted to art theft and forgery. Mystery fiction is a distinct subgenre of detective fiction that entails the occurrence of an unknown event which requires the protagonist to make known (or solve). ...

• Author Iain Pears has a series of novels known as the Art History Mysteries, each of which follows a fictional shady dealing in the art history world
• St. Agatha's Breast by T. C. Van Adler follows an order of monks attempting to track the theft of an early Poussin work
• Chasing Cezanne by Peter Mayle
• The Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa by Robert Noah is a historical fiction speculating as to the motivations behind the actual theft
• Inca Gold by Clive Cussler is a Dirk Pitt adventure about pre-Columbian art theft.

Iain Pears (born in 1955) is an English mystery writer. ... Et in Arcadia ego by Nicolas Poussin. ... Peter Mayle (born 1939) is a British-born author most famous for his series of books detailing life in Provence, France. ... A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, where the time the action takes place in predates the time of the first publication -- distinguish and contrast the genre of alternate history. ... Inca Gold is a book written by Clive Cussler. ... // Clive Eric Cussler (born July 15, 1931 in Aurora, Illinois)[1][2] is an American adventure novelist and successful amateur marine archaeologist. ...

Film

There is some overlap with the crime genre of film, but usually feature complicated heist plots and visually exciting getaway scenes. In many of these movies, the stolen art piece is a MacGuffin. This article or section seems to contain too many examples (or examples of poor quality) for an encyclopedia entry. ...

• In the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, the title character is a stylish, debonair playboy who steals art for amusement rather than for the money. The 1968 Thomas Crown film arranges the theft of cash from banks, not art.
• Once a Thief (1991), directed by John Woo, follows a trio of art-thieves in Hong Kong who stumble across a valuable cursed painting.
• In Two if by Sea (1996), the main characters are attempting to unload a valuable painting and lead a normal life.
• In Entrapment (1999), an insurance agent is persuaded to join the world of art theft by an aging master thief.
• Ocean's Twelve (2004) involves a competition to steal a Faberge egg
• In the Doctor Who Episode City of Death, The Mona Lisa is attempted to be stolen. Then because the aliens have time travel technology, they have Da Vinci make 11 more identical versions. They can sell their 12 Original versions to 12 buyers, each in secret from the other. The plot is foiled when the Doctor writes "This is a fake" in felt tip pin on the additional canvases prior to them being started. It would show up on any scan. However in a fire all are lost save one, one with the markings underneath. In that storyline, the world uknowingly is left with an original fake Mona Lisa, with modern writing underneath the paint.

1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1999 English language film, a remake of the 1968 film of the same name. ... The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1968 movie starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. ... Once a Thief is a 1991 film by John Woo. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Entrapment DVD cover Entrapment (1999), directed by Jon Amiel, is a film starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. ... Oceans Twelve is a 2004 film that takes place after the events of the 2001 movie Oceans Eleven. ... Fabergés Moscow Kremlin Egg, 1906 A Fabergé egg is one of 50 jewelry Easter eggs made by Peter Carl Fabergé of the Fabergé company for the Russian Tsars between 1885 and 1917. ... City of Death is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 29 to October 20, 1979. ...

See also

• List of artworks with contested provenance
• Kempton Bunton, the alleged thief of Goya's Portrait of the Duke of Wellington.
• Nazi Plunder

Throughout the world, there are many works of art that have a contested Provenance. ... Portrait of the Duke of Wellington, by Goya, was stolen by Kempton Bunton. ... Nazi plunder stored in a church at Elligen, Germany, 1945 Nazi plunder refers to art theft and other items stolen as a result of the organized spoliation of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. ...

References

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion (US$7. ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (67th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Rotten.com History of Art Theft
• FBI art theft Program
• Memoirs of top FBI Art Theft investigator Thomas McShane
• YourBrushWithTheLaw.com - Promotion in Art Theft Awareness
• Search for the World's Most Wanted Art
• Ghent Altarpiece search page
• Greatest heists in art history (BBC)
• Observatory for Protection of Cultural Patrimony(OPCP)
• Project for the Documentation of Wartime Cultural Losses - Website of the Cultural Property Research Foundation, Inc.
• "Madrid 'mislays' Serra sculpture" at BBC News, 19 January 2006