FBI - Art Theft Program

Spotlight


On Sunday, August 22, 2004, two paintings by Edvard Munch, "The Scream" and "Madonna," were stolen during an armed robbery of a museum in Oslo, Norway. The thieves used a stolen getaway car to escape the scene of the crime. The vehicle was found abandoned nearby and the frames of the paintings were found not far from the museum.

The Case of the Master Forger Scam
Hijinks in the World Of Art

This is a collage of artwork

It took big money, patience, and a wide streak of criminality to pull off.

Here's one example of the scheme:

1990: Buy the authentic Marc Chagall La Nappe Mauve for $312,000.
1993: Have it copied by an expert forger and sell the forgery for $514,000.
1998: Sell the authentic work of art for $340,000.
GAIN OVER 8 YEARS: $854,000.

Here's another:

1996: Buy the authentic Gustave Moreau L'Enlevement de Ganymede for $285,000.
1997: Have it copied by an expert forger and sell the forgery for a $55,000 loss– price tag $229,000.
1999: Sell the authentic work of art for a bigger loss–$170,000.
GAIN OVER 3 YEARS: $399,000

And these are just two examples in a much wider scam charged in the criminal complaint. Other paintings include Chagall's Les Marie au Bouquet de Fleurs and Le Roi David Dans le Paysage Vert; Marie Laurencin's Jeune Fille a la Mandolin; Paul Gaugin's Vase de Fleurs (Lilas); Paul Klee's Palaste; and Pierre Auguste Renoir's Jeune Femme S'Essuyant all pictured.

These are the allegations against a well known New York art dealer, arrested yesterday and charged with 2 counts of wire fraud and 5 counts of mail fraud.

The case continues...and we need your help. Please view the following Paintings and Prints and call the FBI's Brooklyn-Queens Office at 718-286-7100 if you have any information about their whereabouts or ownerships:

Bernard Buffet's Dahlias (Zinnias in a Vase)
Marc Chagall's La Reve...Rabbi et Torah...Vase de Fleur avec Coq et Lune...La Descente de Croix...L'inspiration a l'artiste...Bouquet au Soleil Jaune...Vase...Vase de Fleurs
Moise Kisling's Nu (Nude)
Marie Laurencin's Portrait of Madame Auclair
Claude Monet's Le Mont Kolsas, Effet de Soleil
Rembrandt's The Apostle James Major
Renoir's Paysage (Landscape)
Georges Roualt's Port Scene (Paysage Negre or Paysage Africain)...Martial
Maurice Utrillo's Eglise de Champagne (Green House)
Louis Valtat's Nature Morte aux Fruits
Maurice de Vlaminck's Bouquet de Fleurs dans un Vase...Environs de Mantes

Stolen property depicted in the Art Theft Notices may have since been recovered and returned to its rightful owner. Contact the FBI to confirm the status of stolen art information.