Crime of the Century
The greatest crime of all time is a tough thing make a call on. There’s not a right answer, really. It depends on how you look at it. However, it’s a fun thing to talk about and consider. In that light, the famous theft from the Gardner museum has to stand out as one of the top contenders. The amount value of the theft was huge, the crime was well organized and ran smoothly and it remains unsolved today. Then the fact that it was an art theft gives the story that extra little bit of intrigue and romance.
What first surprised me, after reading about the theft, was re-checking the date and realizing how recently it happened. It happened in my lifetime, back in 1990. The thieves used a simple but effective trick to gain access to the building. Two of them dressed as policemen and demanded that the night watchman let them inside for an unspecified reason. Once inside, they subdued the guard and his partner non-lethally, and got to work. In just over an hour the thieves made off with thireen paintings by masters like Rembrandt, Manet, Vermeer, and five works by Edgar Degas. The thieves disappeared into the night with over $600 million in paintings, more that had ever been stolen at one time… and were never seen again.
Various organizations and individuals have tracked the paintings over the years, but none have been recovered. Famous art is notoriously difficult to sell, so it’s entirely possible the original thieves still have the paintings, even more than 25 years later. This is actually somewhat common with art theft- the thieves may hold on to valuable paintings in times of trouble to use as a bargaining chip with the law.
There have been a number of colorful suspects over the years, though none panned out. The professional nature of entry, but rough way the paintings were handled, suggested to some it could be organized crime figures. The thieves knew crime, but not art, leading some to suspect member of the Mafia. Others have suggested a group of Corsicans, based on some of the other less valuable items taken at the same time.
For now, though, the crime remains unsolved, and the paintings remain lost. There is hope- a good chance, even- that the pieces will turn up when the right men are caught are forced to turn them over. Or perhaps in a secluded basement of a rich family, displayed privately. Or, perhaps not at all. Only time will tell.
Recommended Reading
The hard work of all our artists and/or framing novices does not go unnoticed so we’re honored to present to you the winners in our 6 coveted categories. Their choice of color, quality, size and even core allowed them to stand out amongst the 200+ submissions. You have all done so well to make this [
Valentines Day Matboard and Frame Ideas Custom Heart Shaped Matboards A Valentine Day matboard and frame is a great gift to show someone how much you care. A heart shaped matboard and frame is a simple yet thoughtful way to show your appreciation. See our custom designs for loving gift ideas this Valentines Day. Contact us with [
2019 Photo Contest We are launching our biggest contest ever! E-mail or Instagram a picture of our mattes or frames with your artwork for a chance to win up to $200. This is a fun way to share your artwork with our audience and show case how you use our custom matting and framing products! [
We are launching the first and biggest ever award show dedicated to your matted art! E-mail or Instagram a picture of your artwork with one of our products, for a chance to win up to $200 or our brand new Matboard and More merchandise. This is a fun way to share your artwork with our [
2022 Christmas Submissions 2022 was an incredible year all around for Matboard and More. We are excited to share with you some of the customer submissions from the holiday season. It’s always an honor for us when our custom mats and picture frames are utilized to showcase your gifts and treasured art pieces. To be [
Custom Opening Shapes Available In addition to oval opening matboards, we’ve added unique corners including Diamond, Rounded, Angled, Step and Circle corners. Explore all our new custom mat board openings now.
Come take a look behind the curtain to see the magic of making custom matboards and frames! Our facility in Marietta, GA is where we create all of our products. We are proud to source from US suppliers and make everything in house. This ensure we have the highest quality and standards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGZ288Jf6ds Matboard Storage [
Jen A is this years winner of the photo contest! This picture is so perfectly framed, pardon the pun. This year was definitely the best in terms of quality of photos. We had so many creative submissions and it was very challenging for our team to choose, but Jen A stood out with her gorgeous [
V-Grooves Available for Custom Matting V-Grooves are a shallow cut across the mat which exposes the core color of the top mat. V-Grooves can be cream, white or black depending on the mat core color. Your matboards will have extra flair and style that will make uniquely display your art. Add a V-Groove with just 1 click on [