What Rembrandt Saw: The History of Stealing, Conserving, and Protecting Art in Boston

A conversation and book signing with Anthony Amore and Holly Salmon

Thursday
January 22, 2026
7 - 8:30 pm
Calderwood Hall

Anthony Amore, the Gardner Museum’s Director of Security and Chief Investigator, has spent the last two decades safeguarding the Museum’s collection of great historic and cultural value. As one of the world’s leading art crime experts, he has also authored numerous books on the subject of art theft. Holly Salmon, John L. and Susan K. Gardner Director of Conservation, has likewise dedicated over 20 years to the care and wellbeing of Isabella’s acquired objects, conserving the works for the “education and enjoyment of the public forever.” With unique perspectives to share on the story of the Dutch Room, the empty frames, and the stolen artworks, Anthony and Holly will discuss the Gardner’s place in the history of art crime, the history of the Dutch Room, and why thieves target the work of Rembrandt, one of the world’s most stolen artists.

A book signing with Anthony will conclude the event. Copies of Anthony’s books will be available for purchase in Calderwood Hall before and after the conversation, including:

About The Speakers

A black and white photo of a causcasian man sitting in a chair infront of an empty frame behind him wearing glasses, a suit and tie and looking directly at the camera.

Caucasian woman with shoulder length dark brown hair wearing a suit jacket and silk scarf, in front vines of blooming nastruriums smiling at the camera.

Photo courtesy of Seth Jacobson, 2025

Anthony Amore is an author, art theft expert, and security professional. For the past 20 years, he has served as the security director and investigator for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, the site of the largest heist in history. He has written four nonfiction books on the topic of art crime. His latest, The Rembrandt Heist, was named one of the 10 best history books of 2025 by Smithsonian magazine.

Holly Salmon is the John L. and Susan K. Gardner Director of Conservation at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum where she has worked for over 20 years. She is an objects conservator specializing in laser cleaning of art. She manages several of the Gardner Museum’s capital projects, such as the on-going restoration of the Museum’s Dutch Room and the recently completed project to upgrade to gallery lighting throughout the Museum's historic building. Holly received her B.A. in Art History and Studio Art from Wellesley College, her M.S. in Art Conservation from the Winterthur University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and a certificate of Advanced Training in Objects Conservation from the Straus Center for Conservation, at the Harvard Art Museums.

Tickets

Advance tickets are required and include Museum admission. Adults $22, seniors $20, students $15, free for members and children 17 and under. Seating in Calderwood Hall is first come, first served. Seating begins 45 minutes before the event. Late seating is not guaranteed.

To request accessible or wheelchair seating, please call the box office at 617 278 5156.