Art heists might sound like the plot of a thrilling movie, but some of history’s greatest masterpieces have been stolen in real life—and many are still missing. These works, worth millions (and sometimes priceless to art lovers), remain shrouded in mystery. Here are the stories of 10 famous artworks that have vanished.
The Tower of Blue Horses by Franz Marc
During WWII, forces seized art from various European collections, and The Tower of Blue Horses was stolen in the middle of the chaos. Marc’s painting, highly valued for its vibrant depiction of blue horses, was last seen in Berlin, and people believe that it is lost forever due to the war’s mess. Despite numerous searches, it remains missing today.
The Concert by Johannes Vermeer
Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is where one of the most legendary art thefts in history occurred. In 1990, Vermeer’s The Concert was lifted, along with several other pieces, by thieves disguised as police officers. It’s considered the most valuable stolen painting in the world, valued at over $200 million.
The Storm on the Sea of Galilee by Rembrandt
Rembrandt’s only known seascape, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, was also taken that fateful night at the Gardner Museum in 1990. There were dramatic depictions of a stormy ocean in that painting that seemed eerily fitting for the chaos surrounding its disappearance. The empty frame still hangs in the museum.
Poppy Flowers by Vincent van Gogh
Van Gogh’s Poppy Flowers has disappeared not once but twice, owing to its estimated worth of $55 million! That last known heist in Egypt raised suspicions of inside help. However, despite a global search since 2010, this small yet expensive and vibrant piece of Van Gogh’s genius remains untraceable.
Portrait of a Young Man by Raphael
One of Raphael’s most significant works, Portrait of a Young Man, vanished during WWII. Nazi officials in 1945 were the last ones to be seen with that painting. This Renaissance masterpiece, which people call the “most important missing painting,” is thought to have been destroyed or hidden in a private collection.
Charing Cross Bridge, London, by Claude Monet
In 2012, thieves raided the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam, stealing Monet’s painting along with works by famous artists like Matisse, Picasso, and Gauguin. Charing Cross Bridge, London, is famous for its luminous depiction of London’s foggy skyline. It’s heartbreaking for art enthusiasts that this impressionist gem went away.
Reading Girl in White and Yellow by Henri Matisse
Another missing masterpiece from the Kunsthal Museum heist is the portrait of the Reading Girl in White and Yellow by Henri Matisse. A quiet moment of a girl engrossed in a book is delicately depicted in this artwork. Such an intimate work was lifted up by three Roman robbers in broad daylight who said it was burnt to ashes.
The Poor Poet by Carl Spitzweg
Spitzweg’s sad painting had a struggling poet writing in a dilapidated attic. To everyone’s shock, a German performance artist, Ulay, stole The Poor Poet in 1976. He did it to critique the institutionalization of art and highlight the marginalization of Turkish migrant workers in West Germany. Ulay even titled the theft, “There is a Criminal Touch to Art.”
Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence by Caravaggio
Rumors suggest this Nativity art is in the hands of the mafia, hidden away in some underground lair. Caravaggio’s Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence was wiped off from the Oratory of Saint Lawrence in Palermo. Thieves sliced the painting from its frame and picked up a rug from the oratory, most likely to roll it up.
The Just Judges from the Ghent Altarpiece
The Just Judges panel of the Ghent Altarpiece vanished on the night of April 10, 1934, from Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, Belgium. There was also a ransom demand, but oddly, it led to nowhere. Van Eyck’s elaborate and intricate piece of the iconic altarpiece has been missing ever since. Art historians and detectives were baffled over its disappearance for decades.
