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An empty frame where Rembrandt's “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

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Six theories behind the stolen Gardner Museum paintings

On the 27th anniversary of the $500 million Gardner Museum heist, we take a look at six theories behind the stolen paintings.

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The FBI searched the shed in Robert Gentile’s Connecticut backyard, believing artwork stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was kept there. // no credit On March 18, 1990, thieves took 13 works of art from the Gardner Museum, leaving behind broken frames. // Jim Bourg/Reuters The missing items include Vermeer’s “The Concert.” // Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Manet’s “Chez Tortoni” is also among the missing works. //Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Rembrandt’s “Storm on the Sea of Galilee” was stolen, too. // Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum On May 10, 2012, federal agents raided Robert Gentile’s home in Manchester, Connecticut. // Jonathan Wiggs/Globe staff/file On the scene were Anthony Amore (blue shirt), security director of the Gardner museum, and Brian Kelly, then assistant US attorney. // Jonathan Wiggs/Globe staff/file On March 18, 2013, Richard DesLauriers, then head of the FBI’s Boston office, announced that agents knew who had pulled off the theft. He asked for the public’s help in recovering the art. // Dina Rudick/Globe staff/file

Does a Connecticut shed hold the secrets of the Gardner heist?

Read never-before-revealed details of an aging con man, his links to the case, and the FBI’s search of his property.

Globe's involvement in investigation

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/11/15/BostonGlobe.com/ReceivedContent/Images/globe2-1--90x90.jpg Boston Globe had role negotiating with possible Gardner heist suspect

In April 1994, the museum received an overture that Gardner officials regarded as a promising lead in the case.

Gallery

photos

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/10/17/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/paint4--90x90.jpg Scars of the heist

View the empty frames inside the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

Investigation over the years

Stolen paintings still missing from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

3/13/05

Secrets behind the Gardner heist, the largest art theft in history

A Globe reexamination of the case provided a new account of what happened on the night of the theft.