A captivating notion arises when considering the possibility that one of the most notorious art thefts in history could be linked to a recent scandal involving a high-profile crime network. This intriguing idea was put forth by Instagram influencer Emily Kaplan, who claimed in a viral video that two artworks stolen from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum were mentioned in a tax estate document released by the U.S. Justice Department related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Kaplan, who operates under the handle @newsnotnoise, suggested that the theft of these artworks could be tied to Epstein's financial dealings, where art has often served as a vehicle for money laundering and asset protection. Her video garnered significant attention, amassing nearly 38,000 likes and over 18,000 shares.
She referenced a document that allegedly lists two pieces from the Gardner collection, specifically Rembrandt's Landscape with Obelisk and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. However, it's worth noting that the landscape was reattributed to Govaert Flinck in the 1980s, a German artist who resided in Amsterdam.
These artworks were among the thirteen pieces taken during a daring heist in 1990, when two individuals disguised as police officers entered the museum following a Saint Patrick's Day parade, stealing works by renowned artists such as Edgar Degas and Johannes Vermeer.
While Kaplan's claims raise intriguing questions about the connection between art and illicit activities, they do not provide concrete evidence linking the stolen pieces to Epstein or any trafficking operations. The museum has responded, emphasizing that the claims made in Kaplan's video are inaccurate. A spokesperson stated, "The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum continues to mourn the loss of the 13 artworks stolen in 1990. The works mentioned in the viral video have been misidentified."
Furthermore, the museum cautioned that spreading misinformation could hinder ongoing investigations aimed at recovering the stolen artworks. Kaplan has yet to respond to the museum's clarifications.