Raiders of the lost art
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
Episodes
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.
