The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston announced it would not open on Saturday, the 33rd anniversary of the museum’s notorious art heist. “We have been informed that climate activists are planning a protest at the museum that could potentially endanger our community and our artworks,” a spokesman said in a written statement. “After careful consideration and a wealth of precautionary measures for the safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors and the collection, we have made the difficult decision to remain closed for the day.” On March 18, 1990, $500 million worth of artwork was sold. Stolen Dollars The museum is on Huntington Avenue near the Back Bay Fens. Two men disguised as Boston police officers entered the museum by telling a security guard they were responding to a report of a disturbance, authorities said. The guard and an employee were handcuffed and locked in the basement while the thieves got away with the 13 artworks. The Concert,” one of fewer than 40 known paintings by the Dutch painter from 17 33 years ago,” reads the museum’s written statement. The museum says climate activists around the world have protested, and unfortunately art museums as “Isabella Stewart Gardner envisioned her museum as a place to share art, community, and conversation about art, as well as the environment, particularly horticulture,” said Peggy Fogelman, director of Norma Jean Calderwood. “While it is our mission to uphold Isabella’s values, we do not support this type of tactic, which targets art institutions and could potentially endanger the museum’s collection, staff and visitors.”
BOSTON —
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston announced it would not open on Saturday, the 33rd anniversary of the museum’s notorious art heist.
“We have been informed that climate activists are planning a protest at the museum that could potentially endanger our community and our artworks,” a spokesman said in a written statement. “After careful consideration and a wealth of precautionary measures for the safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors and the collection, we have made the difficult decision to remain closed for the day.”
On March 18, 1990, $500 million worth of art was stolen from the museum, located on Huntington Avenue near the Back Bay Fens.
Two men disguised as Boston police officers got into the museum by telling a security guard they were responding to a report of a disturbance, authorities said. The guard and an employee were handcuffed and locked in the basement while the thieves got away with the 13 artworks.
Missing pieces include Rembrandt’s only known seascape, Christ in a Storm on the Sea of Galilee, and Vermeer’s The Concerto, one of fewer than 40 known paintings by the 17th-century Dutch painter.
Video: From the Archives: Art Heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
“This protest was deliberately timed to coincide with the anniversary of the art heist that took place 33 years ago at the Gardner Museum,” the museum’s written statement said.
The museum says climate activists around the world have protested, sadly using art museums as platforms to promote their cause.
“Isabella Stewart Gardner envisioned her museum as a place for sharing art, community and conversation. She was a champion of all art forms as well as the environment, especially horticulture,” said Peggy Fogelman, director of Norma Jean Calderwood. “While it is our mission to uphold Isabella’s values, we do not support this type of tactic, which targets art institutions and could potentially endanger the museum’s collection, staff and visitors.”