Art & Politics: Changing Hearts and Minds - led by Anne Hawley

Seminar II:  Art and Theft of Our Cultural Heritage

Feb 24, 4:00 - 5:30

Speakers: 

•  Geoffrey Kelly, FBI Agent

Geoffrey Kelly was the FBI Agent-in-charge of the case of the break-in and theft at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

•  Anthony Amore, Director of Museum Security, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

      Anthony Amore is also the author of Stealing Rembrandts.

The robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum -- the largest art theft in history -- is still unresolved. While the museum was robbed, the art was stolen from the public and removed from our cultural heritage. Imagine you can never hear a Verdi Requiem or a Beethoven symphony again. Just erased from history. This seminar will explore art crime, the investigation and where it stands today. I will guide the discussion with the guests as well as provide images of the stolen art.

On March 19, 1990 two thieves disguised as Boston Policemen broke into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, tied up the guards and removed five paintings (including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer), six drawings, and two small sculptures. Today the art is valued at over 500 million, but it really is priceless. The Vermeer painting “The Concert” is one of the artist’s best works, among only 33 in existence.  An active investigation continues but those holding the paintings so far have refused to return them.

Working alongside law enforcement, as well as with private investigators to recover the works, I’ve had complex experiences with the FBI as well as the Boston crime underworld.  Early in the investigation, I was threatened with the charge of obstruction of justice when pursuing privately a lead that promised to crack open the investigation. During my time on the case, I have followed leads from a businessman’s home in Japan, to Corsica, to a luxury hotel room in New York City.  Today, top talents at the FBI are working on the case and collaborating with the leadership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. All while the museum has re-imagined itself to become a cultural center where artists, scholars, musicians and designers interact with the public in unexpected ways.