Gardner Museum Denies Stolen Rembrandt Linked to Epstein Files

Claims in viral video that stolen artworks were found in Epstein documents are false, museum says.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A viral video by Instagrammer Emily Kaplan claimed that two artworks stolen from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 were found in documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, the museum has firmly denied these claims, stating that the information is incorrect and may hinder the ongoing investigation into the unsolved heist.

Why it matters

The 1990 Gardner Museum heist is considered one of the biggest art thefts in history, with 13 works valued at over $500 million stolen. Any potential leads on the whereabouts of the missing artworks would be of great interest, but the museum has cautioned that false information can actually impede the investigation and delay the safe return of the stolen pieces.

The details

Kaplan's video claimed that a document in the Epstein files referenced two Gardner Museum works - Rembrandt's "Landscape with Obelisk" and "Portrait With a Plumed Hat." However, the museum states that the information is incorrect, as one of the stolen works was actually a Rembrandt etching titled "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," not a painting. The museum emphasized that the likelihood of the stolen artworks being entered into any written documentation, especially related to Epstein's financial dealings, is extremely low.

  • The Gardner Museum heist took place in 1990 after a St. Patrick's Day parade.
  • Kaplan's viral video making the Epstein claims was posted in February 2026.

The players

Emily Kaplan

An Instagrammer who posted a viral video claiming stolen Gardner Museum artworks were found in the Epstein files.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

The Boston museum that had 13 works of art, including paintings by Rembrandt, Degas, and Vermeer, stolen in the 1990 heist.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender whose financial dealings and connections to the wealthy elite were the subject of a trove of documents released after his death.

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What they’re saying

“The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum still mourns the loss of the 13 works of art that were stolen from its galleries in 1990. Among the works stolen were Flinck's oil painting Landscape with Obelisk and the Rembrandt etching Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, which have been misidentified in viral social media video on the recently released Epstein files.”

— Museum Spokesperson (Boston Herald)

What’s next

The museum has stated that all tips related to the stolen artworks must be investigated, so they will likely look into Kaplan's claims despite dismissing the information as incorrect. The ongoing investigation into the 1990 heist, one of the biggest art thefts in history, continues.

The takeaway

This case highlights the dangers of misinformation spreading rapidly online, especially when it comes to unsolved crimes and missing artworks. The museum has warned that false claims can actually hinder active investigations and delay the safe return of the stolen pieces, underscoring the need for caution and fact-checking when it comes to sensational theories about high-profile crimes.