Rembrandt Work Stolen from Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey

A lithograph of a Rembrandt work worth about $250,000 was stolen Saturday night from the swanky Ritz-Carlton hotel in Marina del Rey in a well-executed theft, a sheriff's official said Sunday.

The artwork was stolen between 10:20 p.m. and 10:35 p.m. Saturday when an attendant at an art exhibit at the hotel was distracted by someone who appeared to be making a purchase, said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. When the attendant turned back to the exhibit, the lithograph was gone, Whitmore said.

"We believe this was well thought out, well planned and well executed," Whitmore said. "The Ritz-Carlton has some of the best hotel security in the nation."

Whitmore said the lithograph was called The Judgment and urged anyone with information on the theft to call the Marina del Rey sheriff's station at 310-482-6000.

Rembrandt van Rijn was a 17th century Dutch painter and etcher best known for his self-portraits and illustrations of biblical scenes.

An operator at the Ritz-Carlton said there would be no comment on the theft until public relations staff returned Monday morning.

Whitmore said the sheriff's office was notified of the theft by the Linearis Institute, which collects, exhibits and auctions fine art. A call to the group Sunday morning was not immediately returned.