The Artists
Art experts have offered opinions saying that the thieves were illiterate concerning the value of art masterpieces. They miss the point, the art was taken to be used as leverage, and they went for what they believed were the big names; the reasons for which l address in the book Isabella.
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The painting considered the most valuable in the Gardner collection is the Rape of Europa by the fifteenth-century Venetian painter Titian. The Vermeer was a better choice. The Vermeer measures 27 1/4" x 24 3/4" compared to Titians 70" x 80 1/2", making it easier to handle and market, especially to the underworld. They left the Rape of Europa undisturbed on the museum's wall.
Titian
Italian, born: 1488, Died: 1576 at age 88. His real name was Tiziano Vecelli and is considered the most important Italian painter of the Venetian school in the 16th century, is considered a pioneer in the use of color and is credited with having a strong influence on the development of Western art.
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Harmenszoon van Rijn Rembrandt
Dutch, born: 1606, Died 1669 at age 63. One of the best-known names in art and I generally thought to be one of the greatest artists in history.
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Johannes Vermeer
Dutch, born: 1632, Died: 1675 at age 43. Johannes Vermeer was not a wealthy artist and did not accumulate a large volume of work, which influences the values placed upon his works today. The painting stolen from the Gardner is estimated to have a value of over 300 million dollars if it was offered for sale on the open market. The scarcity of his work makes it the most valuable of the stolen Gardner masterpieces.
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Eduard Manet
French, born: 1832 in Paris, Died in1883 at age 51. An artist who is confused with Claude Monet, a better known but not necessarily better impressionist painter of the late 19th century. In popular word processing programs, spell check changes Manet to Monet. Manet came from a wealthy family and was an eccentric rebel whose work was influential to the younger painters of the impressionist era.
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Edgar Degas
French, born: 1833 in Paris, Died: 1917 at age 84. Degas is a founder of impressionism, famous for his paintings and sketches of racehorses and ballet dancers. He was also a sculptor.
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John Singer Sargent
American, born: 1856, Died: 1925 at age 69. While his works were not stolen in the heist, John Singer Sargent was a friend of Isabella Stewart Gardner and she posed for him on several occasions, including the painting that graces the cover of Isabella. He was the most prominent portrait painter of his generation.
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