Canvassing the Scene
Today marks the anniversary of one of the most infamous art heists in history, when two men dressed as police officers made off with a number of valuable paintings—including several Rembrandts and Vermeer’s The Concert—from Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. The paintings have yet to be recovered, joining a long list of pilfered masterpieces that remain at large, including Raphael’s Portrait of a Young Man, Vincent van Gogh’s Poppy Flowers, and Lucian Freud’s Francis Bacon.
Stealing Beauty: 11 Notable Art Thefts
© Everett-Art/Shutterstock.com
This Artist’s Golden Toilet, America, Was Stolen in 2019
William Edwards—AFP/Getty Images
Is This the Most Stolen Work of Art in History?
© Paul M.R. Maeyaert—Scala/Art Resource, New York
Grudge-Match Election
Today is the birthday of Grover Cleveland, the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms—a feat that Donald Trump hopes to emulate against Pres. Joe Biden this fall. Cleveland won his first term in 1884, but lost his reelection bid to Benjamin Harrison. Four years later, Cleveland faced Harrison again and this time he won. It was one of a handful of U.S. presidential rematches, including the following.
Eisenhower vs. Stevenson
Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower faced off against Democrat Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 presidential election and won in a landslide (442-89 Electoral College votes). Four years later, Stevenson tried his luck again against Eisenhower and lost in an even bigger landslide, 457-73.
Van Buren vs. Harrison
Democrat Martin Van Buren won the election of 1836 when he took on a field of several Whig Party members, led by William Henry Harrison. But four years later Harrison had his revenge as the lone Whig Party member running for president, winning easily with an Electoral College vote of 234 to 60.
Adams vs. Jefferson
In the election to succeed George Washington in 1796, Federalist John Adams squared off against Democrat-Republican Thomas Jefferson. Adams received the most votes, and Jefferson the second-most. Under the electoral system of the time, that made Jefferson vice president and Adams president. Four years later, Jefferson claimed the presidency, and Adams came in third behind new Vice President Aaron Burr.
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