The disappearance of the Amber Room not only one of the greatest mysteries in the history of art, but in the history of humankind. How and why was a room with walls entirely constructed of tiny pieces of a precious fossil-gem constructed, and where in the fog of war did such a masterpiece disappear? More importantly, is there hope, almost 80 years later, that it could be still out there?

Theme music and sound effects credit: 

Pavane, Op. 50 (flute ensemble arr.) by Steven David Tung is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

The Battle of Anghiari is a mysterious lost fresco by Leonardo da Vinci, perhaps history's most famous artist. Like many Leonardo works, it was never finished. The room in which the fresco was located, the Salone dei Cinquecento in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio, was later renovated by the pioneering art historian and painter Giorgio Vasari. Is Leonardo's work still preserved behind a false wall in the Salone? 

Theme music and sound effects credit: 

Pavane, Op. 50 (flute ensemble arr.) by Steven David Tung is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is 600 year old, 20 panel altarpiece that stands as one of the greatest artistic achievements in human history. It has been the victim of looting, burning, censor, forgery, destruction, and theft, sometimes multiples of each, throughout its long history, and has survived it all - except once.  One of its 12 panels is the subject of one of history’s most tantalizing and bizarre unsolved thefts. It was whisked away 85 years ago in a crime that was committed mysteriously, investigated suspiciously, and is still turning up leads to this day. What happened to the Just Judges panel?

Theme music and sound effects credit: 

Pavane, Op. 50 (flute ensemble arr.) by Steven David Tung is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

Pippin the Hunchback Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

The Stonebreakers (1849) is one of the masterpieces of pivotal French Realist Gustave Courbet, an important precursor to Eduourd Manet and the Impressionists. The painting was groundbreaking for its depiction of brutal rural labor and caused a stir around the world when it was exhibited, during the turbulent and revolution-heavy 19th century. Its final resting place, however, was the city of Dresden, Germany. It was destroyed during the city's vicious bombing during World War II - or so it is thought. On this episode of Vacant Frames, explore the birth and unclear fate of a true Socialist painting.

Theme music and sound effects credit: 

Pavane, Op. 50 (flute ensemble arr.) by Steven David Tung is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

Horse Carriage Ambience sound effect by veromrengere is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

This is the show trailer for the brand new art history mystery podcast, Vacant Frames. Listen to episode 1 now, subscribe to be notified of all new episodes, and check out the podcast blog at vacantframespodcast.wordpress.com. Follow the show on twitter @VacantFrames.