Many priceless works of art were lost or stolen. Here is a list of some of the paintings that have been lost or stolen. Each painting has been described and its indicative value. Some paintings are estimated to be worth more than $500 million. While some are still missing, many others have been destroyed.
The Pigeon with Green Peas by Pablo Picasso was the most expensive painting ever stolen. It was stolen from the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris on May 20, 2010. It is worth EUR100 million ($123 million), but it is believed that the thief did not know its value. The museum was unable to afford insurance, so it did not have any. The museum only had two guards protecting its galleries, and the theft led to the discovery of the thief's hideout.
The concert by Vermeer is currently considered to be the most expensive painting stolen in history. It is estimated to be worth more than $200 million and was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990. The museum could not afford to buy insurance for the paintings, because it would have required better security. The thieves also didn't have any backup plans and were able to make off with just two guards protecting the gallery.
