Six famous paintings that were stolen

Art thefts are often stranger than fiction; some works are recovered, others remain lost forever. These stolen masterpieces continue to fascinate the world. (Unsplash)

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee- Rembrandt: Stolen: 1990, Boston. This Rembrandt was taken during the infamous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist, where thieves disguised as police stole 13 artworks. None, including this painting, have ever been recovered. (wikimedia commons)

Mona Lisa- Leonardo da Vinci: Stolen: 1911, from the Louvre. The world’s most famous painting was stolen by museum employee Vincenzo Peruggia, who hid it under his coat. Missing for two years, its recovery ironically made the Mona Lisa a global icon. (wikimedia commons)

The Just Judges (Panel from the Ghent Altarpiece)- Jan van Eyck: Stolen: 1934, Belgium. This panel was stolen from St. Bavo’s Cathedral and never recovered. A replacement stands in its place, while the original remains one of art history’s most mysterious disappearances. (wikimedia commons)

Portrait of a Young Man- Raphael: Stolen: During World War II. Looted by the Nazis from Poland, this Raphael masterpiece vanished near the end of the war. It is considered one of the greatest lost paintings in art history. (wikimedia commons)

The Concert- Johannes Vermeer: Stolen: 1990, Boston. Also lost in the Gardner Museum robbery, The Concert is considered one of the most valuable unrecovered stolen paintings in history, worth hundreds of millions today. (wikimedia commons)

The Scream- Edvard Munch: Stolen: 1994 and 2004, Oslo. One version of The Scream was stolen twice in daring daylight robberies. The 2004 theft involved armed men and shocked Norway. The painting was later recovered, slightly damaged but intact. (wikimedia commons)