In pictures: Iconic art pieces lost forever

Art history is filled not only with masterpieces we admire today, but also with works that have vanished forever. Some were destroyed by war or fire, others lost to theft or neglect. These missing pieces continue to fascinate us because of their beauty, mystery, and the stories that surround them.

Caravaggio’s Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence: This masterpiece was stolen from an oratory in Palermo in 1969. Despite investigations and rumours of Mafia involvement, it has never been recovered. Its fate remains one of the greatest mysteries in art crime history. (wikimedia commons)

Gustav Klimt’s Philosophy, Medicine, and Jurisprudence: These monumental paintings were created for the University of Vienna. Considered controversial at the time, they were later seized by the Nazis. In 1945, they were destroyed by fire, leaving behind only photographs. (wikimedia commons)

J M W Turner’s Lost Early Works: Several of Turner’s early paintings were lost in a fire at the Munich Glass Palace in 1931. These works showed his early experiments with light and atmosphere. Their loss makes understanding his artistic evolution more difficult. (facebook: history of art group)

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Battle of Anghiari: Painted in the early sixteenth century, this mural was meant to be a grand celebration of military victory. It was created in Florence but never fully completed and later covered over. Only sketches and copies give us a sense of its dramatic power. (wikimedia commons)

Raphael’s Portrait of a Young Man: Often thought to be a self portrait, this painting disappeared during the Nazi occupation of Poland. Despite ongoing searches, it has never resurfaced. It is considered one of the most important missing Renaissance works. (wikimedia commons)

Vincent van Gogh’s The Painter on His Way to Work: This painting was believed to show Van Gogh walking with his easel. It was destroyed during a bombing raid in the Second World War. Today, it survives only in black and white photographs. (wikimedia commons)