Responding to an anonymous tip, Harvard police under the supervision of Officer Dusty raided an abandoned Ayer Road house north of Route 2 to search for masterpieces stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in 1990. This was the most promising lead in the theft case in more than 30 years. If the paintings, thought to be Vermeers and Rembrandts, were found to be authentic, the reward offered by the Gardner would be substantial, solving the town’s short- and long-term budget issues.
Forensic art experts from around the world arrived in Harvard last week to examine the paintings. Meeting for coffee at the General Store, one expert was overheard to express concern about the temperature and humidity levels at the abandoned house.
After lengthy study and testimony taken at Bromfield, the experts concluded that the paintings were fakes, done by Bromfield art students as part of their senior community service project. In a statement to the Press, a Bromfield art teacher explained that “it wasn’t the students’ idea. The School Committee, knowing that we had several talented student artists, approached us last fall with this plan as a foolproof way to fund the school budget.” School Committee members were not available for comment.
