Many valuable paintings have been stolen. The paintings listed are from masters of Western art which are valued in millions of U.S. dollars. The US FBI maintains a list of "Top Ten Art Crimes"; a 2006 book by Simon Houpt, a 2018 book by Noah Charney, and several other media outlets have profiled the most significant outstanding losses.
Unrecovered PaintingTitle, ArtistDate stolenLocation of theftDetailsEstimated valueReward Infante and Dog by Diego Velázquez Marseille, FranceStolen from a private residence during a burglary; no other paintings were stolen. $1,000,000 Landscape with Cottages by Rembrandt van Rijn Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada A rare Rembrandt landscape stolen from the museum by armed robbers in 1972 $1 million at the time; estimated in 2003 to have appreciated to $5 million $50,000 Still Life: Vanitas by an anonymous artist in the style of Jan Davidsz van Heem Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada Among paintings stolen from the museum by armed robbers in 1972 The Concert by Johannes Vermeer Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts, United States The largest art theft in world history occurred in Boston on March 18, 1990, when thieves stole 13 pieces, collectively valued at $500 million, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Among the pieces stolen was Vermeer's The Concert, which is considered to be the most valuable stolen painting in the world. A reward of $10,000,000 is still offered for information leading to their return. Part of a $500,000,000 heistStolen , a documentary about the theft of The Concert, from the PBS website. $10,000,000A Lady and Gentleman in Black by Rembrandt van RijnIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts, United StatesOne of thirteen works stolen during the heist, the painting was crudely cut out of its frame and rolled up.Part of a $500,000,000 heist$10,000,000 The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt van Rijn Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts, United States The Storm on the Sea of Galilee is a painting of 1633 by the Dutch Golden Age painter Rembrandt van Rijn that was in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum of Boston, Massachusetts, United States, prior to being stolen on March 18, 1990. The painting depicts the miracle of Jesus calming the waves on the Sea of Galilee, as depicted in the fourth chapter of the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is Rembrandt's only seascape. It is widely believed, because of the fourteen people in the boat, that Rembrandt painted himself in the boat along with the twelve disciples and Jesus. The crewmember looking out towards the viewer of the painting has been suggested as being a self-portrait of Rembrandt. Part of a $500,000,000 heist $10,000,000 Landscape with an Obelisk by Govert Flinck Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, Massachusetts, United States The largest art theft in world history occurred in Boston on March 18, 1990, when thieves stole 13 pieces, collectively worth $500 million, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Among the pieces stolen was Landscape with an Obelisk, which had been attributed to Rembrandt. A reward of $5 million is still offered for information leading to their return. Part of a $500,000,000 art heist $10,000,000 Man with a Pipe, by Jean Metzinger Wriston Art Center Galleries, Lawrence University, Wisconsin Man with a Pipe (shown here in black and white half-tone) has been missing from Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin, since 1998 (between 27 July and 2 August), having disappeared while in transit on loan.Art Crimes, Art and Antiques Magazine, December 1998, p. 22. $2,000,000 1,000,000 Le chemin de Sèvres, by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot Louvre, Paris, France Stolen by visitor during open hours, the final piece of artwork stolen from The Louvre until 2025. $1,300,000 View of Auvers-sur-Oise by Paul Cézanne Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England View of Auvers-sur-Oise is a landscape painting by Paul Cézanne. It was stolen from the museum on the last night of 1999, during a celebration of fireworks. $10,000,000 1,700,000 A Cavalier by Frans van Mieris the Elder Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AustraliaStolen by visitor during opening hours. $1,000,000 Venus with a Mirror by Jacopo Palma il Giovane Budapest, Andrássy 94 szám, Hübner Palace, Budapest, Hungary Stolen on 11 February 2010 from Andrássy 94 szám, Budapest, Palace Hübner by robbers using force. Criminal case, Budapest Police - BRFK VI.ker. Rendőrkapitányság 010060/465/2010 $1 million at the time Poppy Flowers by Vincent van Gogh Mohammed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, Cairo, Egypt Poppy Flowers (also known as Vase and Flowers and Vase with Viscaria) is a painting by Vincent van Gogh with an estimated value of $50 million. The painting, which is of a vase of yellow and red poppies, contrasted against a dark background is a reflection of Van Gogh's deep admiration for Adolphe Monticelli, an older painter whose work influenced him when first he saw it in Paris in 1886.Guardian, "Stolen Van Gogh Still Missing" Retrieved August 26, 2010 Egyptian officials erroneously believed they had recovered the painting only hours after its theft when two Italian suspects attempted to board a plane to Italy at Cairo International Airport. The same painting had been stolen from the same museum on June 4, 1977, and was recovered ten years later in Kuwait. The painting is small, measuring 65 x 54 cm, and depicts yellow and red poppy flowers. It is believed that van Gogh painted it in 1887, three years before his suicide. $50–55,000,000 ¥100,000,000 Madeleine Leaning on her Elbow with Flowers in her Hair by Pierre-Auguste Renoir Private residence, Houston, TexasStolen by armed robber at night $1,000,000 A Soldier on Horseback by Anthony van Dyck Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford, United KingdomStolen at night along with two other paintings. A Boy Drinking by Annibale Caracci Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford, United Kingdom Stolen at night along with two other paintings.
Rumored to be destroyed or lost Painting Title, Artist Date stolen Location of theft Details Estimated value Reward Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence by Caravaggio San Lorenzo in Palermo, Sicily The Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence (also known as The Adoration) is a painting from 1609 by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio. It was stolen on October 16, 1969, in Palermo, Sicily. The painting is large, measuring almost six square metres (actual size 268 cm x 197 cm) and hung above the altar. Probably because of its size, it was removed from its frame by the thief or thieves (two suspected) before being taken out of the church. After it was stolen, the Oratory was pillaged of other artworks, along with choir stalls of carved and gilded wood and benches inlaid with precious woods and mother of pearl. $20,000,000 ? Le pigeon aux petits pois by Pablo Picasso Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris Le pigeon aux petits pois (The Pigeon with Green Peas) is a 1911 painting by Pablo Picasso. It was one of five paintings stolen from the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris on May 20, 2010, which together are worth about €100 million ($123 million). The painting has supposedly been discarded, as one of the thief's accomplices, Jonathan Birn, who was supposed to keep it safe, claims to have destroyed it. $28,000,000 ? Still Life with Candlestick by Fernand Léger Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France Still Life with Candlestick (Nature morte au chandelier) is a 1922 painting by Fernand Léger. It was one of five paintings stolen from the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris on May 20, 2010, which together are worth about €100 million ($123 million). The painting has supposedly been discarded, as one of the thief's accomplices, Jonathan Birn, who was supposed to keep it safe, claims to have destroyed it. $28,000,000 ? The Just Judges by Jan van Eyck Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium The Just Judges (145 × 51 cm) is the lower left panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, by Jan van Eyck or his brother Hubert Van Eyck. As part of the altarpiece, it was displayed at the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium, until stolen during the night of April 10, 1934, possibly by the Belgian Arsène Goedertier (Lede, December 23, 1876 – Dendermonde, November 25, 1934). The bishop of Ghent received a ransom demand for one million Belgian francs. On November 25, 1934, the thief revealed on his deathbed that he was the only one who knew where the masterpiece was hidden, and that he would take the secret to his grave. Although several people have claimed to know its whereabouts, the painting has never been recovered and is now believed by many to be destroyed. The panel was replaced in 1945 by a copy by Belgian copyist Jef Vanderveken. Unknown ? Harlequin Head (Tête d'Arlequin, 1971) by Pablo Picasso October 15–16, 2012 Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam Presumably burnt by an accomplice Unknown ? Reading Girl in White and Yellow (La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune, 1919) by Henri Matisse October 15–16, 2012 Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam Presumably burnt by an accomplice Unknown ? Waterloo Bridge, London (1901) by Claude Monet October 15–16, 2012 Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam Presumably burnt by an accomplice Unknown ? Charing Cross Bridge, London (1901) by Claude Monet October 15–16, 2012 Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam Presumably burnt by an accomplice Unknown ? Girl in Front of Open Window (Femme devant une fenêtre ouverte, also known as La Fiancée, 1888) by Paul Gauguin October 15–16, 2012 Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam Presumably burnt by an accomplice Unknown ? Self-Portrait (Autoportrait, circa 1889-91) by Meyer de Haan (Meijer de Haan) October 15–16, 2012 Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam Presumably burnt by an accomplice Unknown ? Woman with Eyes Closed (2002) by Lucian Freud October 15–16, 2012 Kunsthal museum in Rotterdam Presumably burnt by an accomplice Unknown ?
Plundered by the Nazis