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Throughout history, some of the world's most amazing works of art have simply disappeared. Through re-enactment, rare archive, and expert comment we see how these treasures were looted, stolen or vanished into the archives. Some have been recovered but many more are still waiting to be found
2016
One of the world’s most famous works of art had been stolen on numerous occasions. Thieves in 1994 even left a message saying ‘thanks for the poor security’.
Painted during Vienna’s cultural heyday, Gustav Klimt’s “Portrait of Adele” was confiscated by the Nazis during WWII.
These works that span Rembrandt’s entire adult life have been scattered across the globe and had a life and history all their own.
An artist so ahead of his time, it took centuries for the Impressionists to rediscover the brilliance of El Greco. Was this particular picture the inspiration behind Picasso's masterpiece Les Demoiselles d'Avignon?
This program traces the history of a famous painting The Lady with an Ermine by Renaissance master artist Leonardo da Vinci. Lost for centuries, this masterpiece has revealed the workings of the ultimate genius, Leonardo da Vinci.
Jan van Eyck is a truly great artist who remains a mystery. His elusive genius has meant many of his works have been desired and stolen.
Painted for the arrival of Paul Gaugin in Arles, this set of paintings by Vincent Van Gogh has gone on an astonishing journey ever since.
It is the painting that started a whole movement: Impressionism. Claude Monet’s famous painting was stolen in 1985 and was missing for five years.
Johannes Vermeer was all but forgotten for centuries and this iconic work lay dormant, overlooked before it was rediscovered.
One of the great post-Impressionistic works, Cezanne’s “Boy in the Red Vest” was stolen in 2008, but was recovered recently in Serbia.
Turner showed his brilliance with this dazzling work. It was stolen in Frankfurt in 1998 and was bought back from the thieves in a curious deal.
Painted for a Silician monastery, the boat it was transported on sunk in a storm. However it was miraculously recovered and then later stolen by Napoleon.
2014
In Munich in 2013 a giant haul of missing masterpieces was discovered. Cornelius Gurlitt was the man behind it and we investigate how his father's job was to purchase works for Hitler himself as part of his Fuhrermuseum.
Each year Carl Fabergé made a one of a kind Easter egg for the Tsar’s family. But Carl was forced to flee Russia during the revolution and 8 of these priceless Imperial Eggs went missing. With one of the elusive 8 recently uncovered could the others seven survived the chaos of 1917.
When Van Gogh died he was a complete unknown, his paintings fetching under 10 dollars. So how did his works become some of the most revered and expensive in the world? His sister in law Johanna is to thank for that. With a new Van Gogh having been discovered just last year, where are the rest?
During WWII the Nazis plundered some of the world’s greatest art works as they tore across Europe. We find out how the Allies tracked them down, what they saved and what it still missing to this day.
The story of the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911 from the Louvre and how Pablo Picasso was accused if the crime. Plus the incredible tales of how many other of da Vinci's works were lost to history and had to be reclaimed.
The Dutch didn’t appreciate what they had. For 200 years Vermeer was completely forgotten. Try to recover a lost man’s masterpieces has driven men to great extremes and gave rise to one of the greatest forgers the world has ever seen.
