5 famous paintings that were stolen and are still missing

Art and artistic masterpieces are gems and spectacles that people love to keep and own. From the expensive sketches to the beautiful oil paintings, for so many keeping with them the most renowned art is a matter of pride and prestige. But, what is unfortunate is that at times people or groups of people, steal artworks, smuggle them away and they are never to be found again. Several artworks by famous painters and artists that were stolen a century ago are missing even today!
Here we list 5 famous paintings that were stolen and are still not found.

Vincent van Gogh's ‘Poppy Flowers’ is a beautiful, soft depiction of vibrant red and yellow poppies against a dark brown background. Painted in 1887, this masterpiece captures the artist's distinctive style and depth and looks way too realistic to be just a painting.
However, in 2010, the painting was stolen from the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo, Egypt, during a brazen daylight heist. Despite widespread speculation and investigations, the whereabouts of ‘Poppy Flowers’ remain unknown.

(Image: Pinterest)

Pablo Picasso's ‘Le pigeon aux petits pois’ or ‘The Pigeon with Green Peas’ is a master example of the artist's cubist period. Created in 1911, the painting has a fragmented and ‘cubed’ depiction of a pigeon alongside a bowl of green peas. In 2010, it was stolen from the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, along with four other masterpieces. Despite the arrest of several suspects, including a notorious art thief, the painting has yet to be recovered.

(Image: Pinterest)

Johannes Vermeer's ‘The Concert’ is a masterpiece of Dutch Golden Age painting. The painting had amazing detail and a hint of chiaroscuro. Created in the 1660s, this iconic work depicts a gathering of 3 musicians in an elegant interior setting. However, in 1990, ‘The Concert’ was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts, in one of the largest art heists in history.

(Image: Pinterest)

Rembrandt's ‘The Storm on the Sea of Galilee’ is a dramatic painting of a biblical scene that shows the chaos and intensity of a storm-tossed sea that Jesus was trying to calm. Painted in 1633, this masterpiece showcases Rembrandt's mastery of light and shadow, as well as his talent of making a painting seem realistic.
However, in 1990, the painting was stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and despite ongoing efforts, Rembrandt’s only seascape remains missing. .

Raphael's ‘Portrait of a Young Man’ almost looks like a picture captured using a camera. It looks like a painting of a nobleman, with beautiful eyes, hair and fair tone looking straight at the viewer. Painted in the early 16th century, this portrait shows Raphael's mastery of the human form and his ability to convey individual personality. However, in 1945, the painting was stolen during World War II and despite rumours and occasional sightings, the whereabouts of Raphael's masterpiece remain unknown.

(Image: Pinterest)