Not a Vermeer or a Rembrandt But They Were Mine

[IMPORTANT- The homeless situation is tragic. There is no attempt to make fun or make light of anyone in this situation. While this is a true story, empathy and help is still offered.]

In 1990, thirteen works were stolen from the Isabella Steward Garden Museum.  Among the pieces taken was a Vermeer and a famed Rembrandt painting valued at some $500 million.

Certainly, I have nothing of that value in the artwork that I put in a rental in 2025 but what was stolen from the small 1 br/1 ba rental unit was nonetheless, mine.  The artwork  was removed in January, between the hours of approximately 2 p.m.  Tuesday and 9 a.m. the following day. Someone had “squatted” in the rental and upon leaving removed the artwork from the walls.

Had a handyman and I not been looking to cover pipes for weather protection, this devastating loss may not have been discovered until it was too late. We opened a small fenced area beside the rental unit and found a person’s bedding, boots and bags of clothes along with three paintings. The artwork depicted the 19th-century creative movement of the “impressionists” work.  In one art piece, the muted blue-grey colours captured life centred around windmills.  In the other two paintings, the works showed life in countries such as Italy, Spain, or Greece.  All three paintings still had the beautiful gold frames intact and had not been harmed otherwise. Obviously, the squatter had moved out and was soon to move on- with the paintings.

Fortunately, we were able to collect the paintings and place them back in the small unit for future guests to see and appreciate.  We are still on the lookout for the thief. We believe it to be a female because of the go-go-boots left behind. The paintings are back on the wall.

See you tomorrow,

Nan