The Rembrandt Heist

Archival Summary & Scope

A Smithsonian Best Book of the Year.

*The Rembrandt Heist* is the true crime story of notorious art thief Myles Connor's audacious 1975 plot to steal Rembrandt's *Portrait of Elsbeth van Rijn* from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts — with the unprecedented goal of returning it.

Facing escalating charges for prior art thefts, Connor was offered an extraordinary deal by a Massachusetts State Police Major: his freedom in exchange for a Rembrandt. What followed was a daring heist driven not by profit, but by a desperate gamble for liberty.

Beyond the crime, this book delves into the complex loyalty between Connor and his best friend, Al Dotoli, whose own intricate plan relied on the painting's safe return. Unraveling Connor's criminal genius, the anatomy of a legendary theft, and the captivating history of the masterpiece itself, *The Rembrandt Heist* offers an unforgettable tale of friendship, audacity, and a staggering ambition.