Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Manet Cafegoer

Summary: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft March 18, 1990 keeps an etching, two bronzes and 11 other works, including the Manet cafegoer, out of sight.

"Chez Tortoni," oil on wood by Édouard Manet, removed from first-floor Blue Room during March 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A model 1986 or 1988 red Dodge Daytona answers to the description of a possible getaway car for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft perpetrators March 18, 1990, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Museum surveillance tapes March 17 at 12:49 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (6:49 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time) bring up the car that late-nighters saw 25 hours later. Thirteen artworks sized from 1.75 by 1.94 inches (4.5 by 5 centimeters) to 63 by 50.38 inches (160 by 128 centimeters) called for a getaway driver. Dutch Room and Short Gallery post-theft inventories detail one etching, one panel, two bronzes, three oils on canvas and five works on paper demanding vehicular transport.

The Blue Room experienced the only first-floor extraction even though motion detectors established only pre-theft footsteps at 12:27 and 12:53 a.m. (6:27 and 6:53 a.m. UTC).

First-floor Blue Room, home of "Chez Tortoni," and neighboring Macknight Room are accessed by the North Cloister; ca. 1933 view from west gives glimpse of Spanish chapel at North Cloister's eastern end; National Park Service's Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.: No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government, via Library of Congress Photo, Print, Drawing

Blue brocatelle, damask and moiré stripe silks function as coverings for all four walls, and furnish the name, of the room nearest the Museum's public entrance.

American and Russian oils on canvas, an American watercolor and Noonday by Paris-born French painter Camille Corot (July 17, 1796-Feb. 22, 1875) grace the east wall. The north wall has American, Australian and Dutch watercolors, American oils on canvas and wood, American photographic reproductions and Swedish works on canvas and on paper. The west wall includes American oils on cardboard and on pasteboard, American and Swedish oils on canvas, American and Italian watercolors and American works on paper.

The south wall juggles just one artwork per French artist after the Manet cafegoer in Chez Tortoni joined the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft casualties.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum gives "about 1875" as the date for "Chez Tortoni"; "Un Atelier aux Batignolles," 1870 oil on canvas portrait of Édouard Manet, at the easel in his studio, by Henri Fantin-Latour (Jan. 14, 1836-Aug. 25, 1904); Musée d'Orsay, 7e arrondissement de Paris (VIIe arrondissement; 7th arrondissement), la rive gauche de la Seine (Left Bank of the Seine), Paris, north central France; Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, 15:28: Sailko, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The south wall, like the east wall, knows just one French artwork, Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet's (June 10, 1819-Dec. 31, 1877) A View Across the River.

Édouard Manet's (Jan. 23, 1832-April 30, 1883) Portrait of Madame Auguste Manet historically leads as third, near 15th-century Italian lion finials, of 34 south wall-located artworks. Charles-Émile Jacque's (May 23, 1813-May 7, 1894) Sheep in the Shelter of the Oaks marks the boundary of the first of the south wall's two niches. Rosa Bonheur's (March 16, 1822-May 25, 1899) A She-Goat nestles near Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix's (April 26, 1798-Aug. 13, 1863) The Crusader in the second alcove.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft overlooks all, including Paul-Albert Besnard's (June 2, 1849-Dec. 4, 1934) A Lady with a Rose, but the Manet cafegoer.

Louis Kronberg purchased Manet's Chez Tortoni for Isabella Stewart Gardner Nov. 30, 1922: Gardner Museum @gardnermuseum, via Twitter Nov. 7, 2016

The missing Manet cafegoer prompts Blue Room totals of 33 artworks, the same as the night of its theft from Manet's mother being removed for cleaning.

Provenance qualifies Louis Kronberg (Dec. 20, 1872-March 9, 1965), Museum-commissioned purchaser at the American Art Association-organized, Plaza Hotel-held auction Nov. 30, 1922, as last legitimate buyer. The sales receipt for Chez Tortoni, 10.25- by 13.33-inch (26- by 34-centimeter) oil on canvas from about 1875, remains among the Museum's provenance and purchase records. It states: "Portrait of a blasé and yet alert young man writing a letter at the famous Paris café, his refreshing glass resting just at hand."

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft triggers questions regarding the how and when of removing the security-bolted Manet cafegoer and of recovering all 13 casualties.

ca. 1914 photograph of American figure painter and art dealer Louis Kronberg, who arranged for the purchase of "Chez Tortoni" on Isabella Stewart Gardner's behalf; Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Art, William Macbeth Gallery Records: Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian Institution), No known copyright restrictions, via Flickr

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

"Chez Tortoni," oil on wood by Édouard Manet, removed from first-floor Blue Room during March 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art theft: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Édouard_Manet_Chez_Tortoni.jpg

First-floor Blue Room, home of "Chez Tortoni," and neighboring Macknight Room are accessed by the North Cloister; ca. 1933 view from west gives glimpse of Spanish chapel at North Cloister's eastern end; National Park Service's Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.: No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government, via Library of Congress Photo, Print, Drawing @ https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ma1748.photos/?sp=9

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum gives "about 1875" as the date for "Chez Tortoni"; "Un Atelier aux Batignolles," 1870 oil on canvas portrait of Édouard Manet, at the easel in his studio, by Henri Fantin-Latour (Jan. 14, 1836-Aug. 25, 1904); Musée d'Orsay, 7e arrondissement de Paris (VIIe arrondissement; 7th arrondissement), la rive gauche de la Seine (Left Bank of the Seine), Paris, north central France; Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, 15:28: Sailko, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henri_fantin-latour,_un_atelier_alle_batignolles,_1870,_01.JPG;
(painting without frame @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henri_Fantin-Latour_006.jpg);
via le Ministère de la Culture la plateforme POP @ https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/joconde/000PE003779

Louis Kronberg purchased Manet's Chez Tortoni for Isabella Stewart Gardner Nov. 30, 1922: Gardner Museum @gardnermuseum, via Twitter Nov. 7, 2016, @ https://twitter.com/gardnermuseum/status/795698602375020546

ca. 1914 photograph of American figure painter and art dealer Louis Kronberg, who arranged for the purchase of "Chez Tortoni" on Isabella Stewart Gardner's behalf; Smithsonian Institution Archives of American Art, William Macbeth Gallery Records: Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian Institution), No known copyright restrictions, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/smithsonian/2796856240/;
Current copyright status undetermined, via Smithsonian Archives of American Art @ https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/items/detail/louis-kronberg-2211

For further information:

"18 U.S. Code § 668 - Theft of Major Artwork." Cornell University Law School > Legal Information Institute > U.S. Code > Title 18 > Part I > chapter 31 > 668.
Available @ https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/668?quicktabs_8=1#quicktabs-8

Baker, Billy. 10 March 2015. "Gardener Keeps Gardner Museum's Atrium in Bloom." Boston Globe > Metro.
Available @ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/09/gardener-keeps-gardner-atrium-bloom/bbSZctlMtkEDy9UDYWrO4K/story.html

Boston Landmarks Commission. Report on the Potential Designation of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a Landmark under Chapter 772 of the Acts of 1975, as Amended.
Available @ https://www.cityofboston.gov/images_documents/ISGM%20Study%20Report%20as%20Amended_tcm3-39717.pdf

"Collection." Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Available @ http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collection

FBI. "FBI Announces Top Ten Art Crimes." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > News > Stories > 2005 > November. November 15, 2005.
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2005/november/topten_art111505

FBI. 8 March 2013. "Gardner Museum in Boston Offering $5 Million Reward for Stolen Art." YouTube.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DpD1HbcFfQ

FBI Boston Division. "Boston FBI Continues Hunt for Stolen Artwork." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > Boston Division > Press Releases > 2010.
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2010/bs031510.htm

FBI Boston Division. "FBI Provides New Information Regarding the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Art Heist." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > Boston Division > Press Releases > 2013.
Available via FBI @ https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2013/fbi-provides-new-information-regarding-the-1990-isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art-heist

Gardner Museum @gardnermuseum. "#OnThisDay in 1921, Isabella Stewart Gardner purchased Louis Kronberg’s La Gitana. Kronberg was one of several artist advisors to Isabella." Twitter. Nov. 7, 2016.
Available @ https://twitter.com/gardnermuseum/status/795698602375020546

"The Gardner Museum Theft." Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) > FBI Top Ten Art Crimes.
Available @ https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/5-million-reward-offered-for-return-of-stolen-gardner-museum-artwork

"Johannes Vermeer: The Complete Works." Vermeer Foundation.
Available @ http://www.vermeer-foundation.org/

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_10.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 24 February 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Degas Dancers.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_24.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 3 March 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Degas Funeral Procession.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/03/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 March 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Degas Jockeys.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/03/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_10.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 3 February 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Flinck Obelisk.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 February 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Napoleonic Flag Topper.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/02/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_17.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 20 January 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Rembrandt Couple.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_20.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 January 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Rembrandt Seascape.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_13.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 6 January 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Rembrandt Self-Portrait.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 27 January 2017. “Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Art Theft: Vermeer Concert.” Earth and Space News. Friday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/01/isabella-stewart-gardner-museum-art_27.html

Mashberg, Tom. March 1998. "Stealing Beauty." Vanity Fair > Culture.
Available @ http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/1998/03/biggest-art-heist-us-history

Mashberg, Tom. 26 February 2015. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Heist: 25 Years of Theories." New York Times > Arts > Art & Design.
Available @ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/arts/design/isabella-stewart-gardner-heist-25-years-of-theories.html?_r=0

Murphy, Shelley. 17 March 2015. "Search for Artworks from Gardner Heist Continues 25 Years Later." Boston Globe > Metro.
Available @ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/03/17/gardner-museum-art-heist-one-boston-most-enduring-mysteries-years-later/9U3tp1kJMa4Zn4uClI1cdM/story.html

"Reputed Mobster Arrested, Reportedly Tried to Fence Gardner Museum Art." The Boston Globe > Posted Apr 17, 2015 at 3:14 PM > Updated Apr 18, 2015 at 10:52 PM.
Available @ http://www.telegram.com/article/20150417/NEWS/304179654

"Thirteen Works: Explore the Gardner's Stolen Art." Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum > Resources > Theft.
Available @ http://www.gardnermuseum.org/resources/theft

Thomson, Jason. 3 May 2016. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Theft: Is the Massive Art Heist About to be Solved?" The Christian Science Monitor > USA > USA Update.
Available @ http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2016/0503/Isabella-Stewart-Gardner-theft-Is-the-massive-art-heist-about-to-be-solved

WBUR. 17 March 2010. "'The Concert' by Johannes Vermeer." YouTube.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrPqiGIJYYs

WBUR. 12 March 2009. "Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist." YouTube.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irBRWMMHOI8

Williams, Paige. March 2010. "The Art of the Story." Boston Magazine > Gardner Museum > Gardner Museum Theft.
Available @ http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2010/03/gardner-heist/3/