[funny-pictures] 10 of the Most Stunning Art Thefts in World History

10 of the Most Stunning Art Thefts in World History

Art Theft – Diamonds and dollar bills are fine spoils for thieves, but more cultured crooks know that just one work of art can be worth millions on the black market. That's probably why art theft has persisted through the years, and why some of the world's most famous paintings are prime targets. Here are 10 of the world's most high-profile cases of art theft:

The Mona Lisa, 1911

Lifting a painting from the Louvre is probably easier when you work there, getting to know the schedule and the best hiding places. That's not to say Vincenzo Perugia's theft of the world's most well-known painting wasn't a gutsy move. It's said that he longed to bring the painting to Italy, his home country, or, according to Time, he might've been trying to drive up the price of counterfeits. Whatever the motives, Perugia was caught trying sell the Mona Lisa to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. He only served a few months in jail.

Sao Paolo Museum of Art, 2007

In just three minutes, three robbers raided Brazil's Sao Paolo Museum of Art and walked out with $56 million worth of art. Taking advantage of low security on the upper floors of the museum, the criminals snatched up Pablo Picasso's Portrait de Suzanne Bloch (1904, worth $50 million, pictured) and Candido Portinari's O Lavrador De Cafe (1939, worth $6 million). Police found the paintings after arresting two of the culprits. The art works were escorted back to the museum by 100 police officers.

The Collection of Stephane Breitwieser

Money isn't the only motive for art theft. Traveling through Europe, working as a waiter, Stephane Breitwieser made a habit of stealing paintings and other cultural artifacts from museums, amassing a personal collection worth at least $1.4 billion. In 2001, Breitwieser was caught stealing a bugle in Switzerland, and he ended up confessing to everything. The art was amassed in his bedroom, but not all could be saved; Breitwieser's mother, either out of love or anger, destroyed some of the incriminating evidence. Go figure, Breitweiser wrote an autobiography in 2006.

The Duchess of Devonshire, 1876

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Posted By fun mania to Fun Mania at 9/26/2009 12:57:00 AM

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