|
Fifteen large paintings celebrating the final journey of Christ are stolen.  Ben Stahl  Ben displayed his paintings in a museum CASE DETAILS The artist Ben Stahl was born in Chicago in 1910. As a young man, he honed his skills on beautiful illustrations for books and magazines. Norman Rockwell once wrote in a letter to Ben, saying: “The rest of us are just illustrators. But you are among the masters.”  All his paintings were stolen from the museum At the height of Ben’s career, the Catholic Press commissioned him to paint the Stations of the Cross for a special edition of the Bible. The 14 small paintings were so popular that Ben decided to paint them again on a much larger scale. David Stahl remembers his father’s work:
In November of 1966, with the paintings completed, Ben opened the Museum of the Cross so the public could enjoy his work. To David, the exhibit was an unforgettable experience:
Then, in 1969, 10 days after Easter, thieves broke in. Somehow, they knew that there were no security guards on duty and no alarm system in place. Instead of cutting the canvases out, the thieves painstakingly removed each staple, then rolled the paintings up and made a clean getaway. According to Sarasota Sheriff’s Department, Captain John Townsend:
What happened to Ben Stahl’s paintings? In 1987, Ben died without ever finding out. His children have offered a reward for their safe return. The statue of limitations has run out on this theft, so anyone who might have unknowingly bought the stolen paintings would not be prosecuted. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season five with Robert Stack and in season eight with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
JoeSnow
I don’t think the paintings exist any longer. If the theives couldn’t get ransom for them, they would have been too recognizable to try to sell. There would have been no point to saving them, if there was no profit in it. They were most likely destroyed by the original thieves, so they couldn’t get caught with them.
Nathan
The main thing that I’ve always believed about this case, was that the heist had to have been an inside job, which would clearly explain how the robbers knew the layout of the building, and the way the museum was operated. Only someone close to both the museum and Ben Stahl would’ve had that kind of information. I’d have a look into this theory if I was on the case.
Cass
If the frames were kept as evidence can’t they go back with the new advances in technology and reexamine them?
Linda
Where can I find a bible with these illustrations in it.
Cathy
Beautiful paintings that should be viewed by the public!!! The family should donate them to the art institute of Chicago if they are ever found!!!
Anonymous
I Get 3 places, are the paintings, I see one in a dentest office given as a gift, I see 5, family relation of the robbers, possible brother in law, 2 have been sold art auction, thay have closed auctions, to sell the stolen works of art, since the 70’s they been doing it,
Travis Logerwell
I think that someone is covering the seine of this crime. I have read about this and the question is who doing it and how? There has also been a saying that the paintings are in a volt at the Myami Art museum but no one has taken it to the point of view to see if they are ther the best thing to do is to get Ben’s Stahl’s oldest son and have him look at the paintings to see if they are his fathers paintings.
VALERIE TOWNSEND
I THINK YOU EVER STOVE THE BEN STAHL PAINTINGS SHOULD BE FOUND NOW AND IF THEY STILL HAVE THE PAINTINGS THEY SHOULD RETURN THEM ARE BE IN JAIL FOR LIFE WITH PERROE. OR NO RELEASE