1 of 2 | A brazen theft of jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris is not the first time thieves have made of historic or valuable artwork. File Photo by Philippe Lopez/EPA
The brazen theft of priceless jewels from the Louvre Museum in broad daylight, roughly 30 minutes after the world’s most-visited museum opened for the day, has sent shockwaves through France, but the country is far from the first to be stung by art thieves.
Here are 10 other large, bold thefts of priceless pieces of art around the world.
Casual theft at Russia’s Tretyakov Gallery
Surveillance footage revealed that a 31-year-old man casually pulled a $185,000 landscape painted in 1908 by Arkhip Kuindhzi off the wall during an exhibition at the gallery before calmly walking past patrons at the show without being questioned.
Mona Lisa stolen from the Louvre
Sunday’s theft at the world’s most visited museum wasn’t its first: In 1911, Leonardo’s Mona Lisa went missing just after noon, when officials noticed its space on the wall was vacant. The officials assumed the painting had been moved so it could be photographed, but hours later found that not to be the case.
Paintings stolen from South African diamond millionaire
Eighteen paintings were stolen from Sir Alfred Beit’s mansion in Dublin worth about $30 million on May 21, 1986. Some of the stolen works, which included art by Vermeer, Rubens, Goya and Gainsborough, were found dumped miles from the mansion during the investigation.
Unsolved Isabella Stewart Gardner heist in Boston
In 2013, more than 20 years after the heist, the FBI identified the suspected thieves of 13 pieces of art worth roughly $500 million. The paintings, which include rare works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, were stolen on March 18, 1990, when two men disguised as police officers carried out the largest theft in U.S. history.
Rodin sculpture returned a quarter-century after theft
Nearly 25 years after a bronze statue by August Rodin was stolen along with several other pieces of art from a Beverly Hills, Calif., home, it surfaced when it was offered up for auction at Christie’s in New York. The statue itself is worth $100,000, but the rest of works taken in the $1 million-dollar heist have not been recovered.
Ornate 16th century altarpieces stolen in Peru
A 10-foot-tall, 700-pound intricately carved gold-covered Spanish colonial altarpiece was reported stolen from the Andean village of Challapampa in Peru. The piece, which was once offered for sale for $600,000 and featured in a touring exhibition, was created by European artists who’d been traveling through South America in the late 1500s.
Stolen paintings show up on reality TV
Six N.C. Wyeth paintings were stolen in 2013 from a Portland, Maine, businessman worth between $1 million and $2 million a piece. Although two have not been recovered, four surfaced on the reality television show Beverly Hills Pawn, leading to the arrest of four people in the theft.
Francis Bacon paintings stolen from private collection
Five Francis Bacon paintings were stolen from the private collection of his friend Jose Capelo in Madrid in 2015. The paintings were taken from his home during a theft that also saw jewelry and other valuables be taken. Police were able to track down the thieves after one sent a picture of a painting to law enforcement, which led to the robbers’ arrest.
Indian maharajahs jewels stolen in Italy
At least two people stole several millions of dollars worth of jewelry from Doge’s Palace during an exhibit titled “Treasures of the Mughals and the Maharajahs,” breaking into a glass as morning visitors viewed the exhibit.
Man arrested but stolen paintings remain missing
A 58-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stealing paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Frans Hals from the Singer Laren museum in The Netherlands on March 30, 2020, when they were on loan from the Groninger Museum. Neither of the paintings, one of which has been stolen before, have been recovered.
Après le vol qu’a subi le Louvre hier, le musée a le regret de vous informer qu’il restera fermé au public ce jour. Les visiteurs ayant déjà réservé leurs billets seront remboursés.
Following yesterday's robbery at the Louvre, the museum regrets to inform you that it will… pic.twitter.com/1UMDtyCty1— Musée du Louvre (@MuseeLouvre) October 20, 2025
