Missing Art from Boston Public Library Found at Boston Public Library

Today, a riveting case of art theft has indeed been solved. After an extensive, high-profile, eight week-long search for its two missing pieces of artwork, the Boston Public Library announced Thursday afternoon that the two prints have, in fact, been found within the walls of the Boston Public Library.

The disappearance of the two prints has been under investigation since the end of May. One of the pieces was an Albrecht Dürer engraving valued at about $600,000, the other was an etching by Rembrandt van Rijn valued at up to $30,000.

The missing artwork resulted in both the suspension with pay of the BPL’s keeper of special collections Susan Glover (featured in Boston Home Winter 2015) and then the resignation, just days ago, of the BPL’s president Amy Ryan, who today announced the find.

The artworks were “simply misfiled,” Ryan explained. They were located at the library approximately 80 feet from where they should have been filed. How fascinating.

“We’re thrilled to have found these treasures right here at home,” said Library President Amy Ryan in a press release. “I want to thank the FBI, Boston Police Department, and US Attorney’s Office for their work throughout this period.” Thanks for coming out, FBI!

Along with law enforcement and city officials, fourteen staff members searched 180,000 if the print stack’s 320,000 items. Nine offices, work rooms, and reading rooms had been searched. “Today is a day of celebration for the entire team at BPL. The staff couldn’t be happier after hundreds of hours of searching,” Ryan also said.

Fellow citizens of this fair city, you may rest easy tonight.