Ten O'Clock News; Gardner Museum theft

Gardner--...the public a part of our heritage has been stolen from us and it's it's a barbaric act. Valencourt--The act was larceny on a grand scale. Two thieves dressed as Boston policeman broke broke into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum early Sunday morning. They stole 11 paintings paintings and etchings and an ancient Chinese vase. The Museum officials today said it was the large- largest art heist in history. Gardner-- Obviously, these are priceless works and they cannot be sold, so a dollar val- value is is irrelevant. Valencourt-- Among the items stolen was this painting, "The Concert," by Dutch master, Ian Ian Vermeer. Only 32 Vermeer paintings exist in the entire world. The thieves also took two paintings and an etching by Rembrandt including the Gardner Mu- Museum's most popular piece, "The storm on the Sea of Galilee." It's the only seascape Rembrandt ever painted. Today, Museum officials said they saw a clear pattern in the theft. Gardner-- Yes, I mean I think that's very clear if you if you look at the photographs you can see these are 17th century Dutch paintings and 19th century French works. They left the Ital-

Italian Renaissance um collection which is really what we're best known for. Valencourt--Since the thieves appear to have had a hit list, some art historians today speculated that a black market collector contracted for the robbery in advance. Given that these pieces are very well known who could possibly um keep them? Gardner--Tha- Gardner--That's a very good question uh. Only probably uh a person who is is determined to keep them private for the rest of their lives. ?Again? Valencourt--either to be negotiated completely pri- privately or to be obtained by holding the pictures ransom, eith- either for money or for publicity. Who might be interested in these paintings? Gardner-- Art fanatics, someone who is very very fond of Rembrandt, a political group in search of media coverage. Any person interested in making an awful lot of money very easily.

Valencourt--The FBI is searching the world for the artworks tonight. The thieves apparently entered the Museum through this side door, posing as a Boston policemen. They overpowered tw- two security guards and tied and gagged them. They then spent several hours selecting vari- various artworks. Some of the paintings were cut from their frames. Today the Museum was cl- closed and officials claimed that their security system was quote "state of the art." Gardner--No. I think the guards were um when they were dealing with peop- people they thought were Boston police officers were doing what most security guards would do. Valencourt--The appeal of the Gardener isn't simply its fabulous collection. It's also its arrangement. Isa- Isabella Gardner lived here at Fenway Court, and in her will she specified nothing in the arrangement should be changed. That may have added to security risks. Gardner--It's a museum that recreates the atmosphere of a home, and that's why going to the Gardner is such a special kind of way to see pictures and perhaps someone thought that to

bring them into their own home would be even better. Valencourt--Museum officials refused to answer questions about security today but they acknowledge the theft will force all small museums to rethink public access. Gardner--...activities, I mean I mean you can't look at the Mona Lisa any more. You have to see it through three levels of er security. The Gardener will reopen, with empty spaces on the wall, on Wednesday. For the 10 O'Clo- 10 O'clock News, I'm Meg Valencourt.