Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum announced it would not open Saturday, the same day that marks the 33rd anniversary of the museum's infamous art theft. "We were informed that climate activists were planning a protest inside the museum that could potentially endanger our community and art," a written statement from a spokesman said. "After careful consideration and an abundance of caution for the safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors and collection, we 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 off Huntington Avenue near the Back Bay Fens. Two men masquerading as Boston police officers entered the museum by telling a security guard they were responding to a report of a disturbance, according to authorities. The guard and a colleague were handcuffed and locked in the basement, while the thieves made off with the 13 works of art. The missing pieces include Rembrandt's only known seascape, "Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee," and Vermeer's "The Concert," one of fewer than 40 known paintings by the 17th-century Dutch painter. Video: From the archive: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist "This protest was deliberately planned to coincide with the anniversary of the art theft that took place at the Gardner Museum 33 years ago," the museum's written statement said. The museum says climate activists have protested around the world, and unfortunately they use art museums as a stage to advance their cause." Isabella Stewart Gardner envisioned her museum as a place for art sharing, community and conversation. She was an advocate for all forms of art, as well as the environment, especially horticulture," said Peggy Fogelman, director of Norma Jean Calderwood. "While it is our mission to safeguard Isabella's values, we do not support this type of tactic that targets art institutions and could potentially endanger the museum's collection, staff and visitors."
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<strong class="dateline">BOSTON —</strong> <p>Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum announced it would not open Saturday, the same day that marks the 33rd anniversary of the museum's infamous art theft.
“We were informed that climate activists were planning a protest inside the museum that could potentially endanger our community and art,” a written statement from a spokesman said. “After careful consideration and an abundance of caution for the safety of our staff, volunteers, visitors and fundraisers, we 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 off Huntington Avenue near the Back Bay Fens.
Two men masquerading as Boston police officers entered the museum by telling a security guard they were responding to a report of a disturbance, according to authorities. The guard and a colleague were handcuffed and locked in the basement, while the thieves ran off with the 13 works of art.
The missing pieces include Rembrandt’s only known seascape, “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee,” and Vermeer’s “The Concert,” one of fewer than 40 known paintings by the 17th-century Dutch painter.
Video: From the Archives: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist
“This protest was deliberately planned to coincide with the anniversary of the art theft that occurred at the Gardner Museum 33 years ago,” the museum’s written statement said.
The museum says that climate activists have protested around the world and are unfortunately using art museums as a stage to advance their cause.
“Isabella Stewart Gardner envisioned her museum as a place for art sharing, community and conversation. She was an advocate for all forms of art, as well as the environment, especially horticulture,” said Peggy Fogelman, the Norma Jean Calderwood Director. “While it is our mission to safeguard Isabella’s values, we do not support this type of tactic that targets art institutions and could potentially endanger the museum’s collection, staff and visitors.”
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