Italian authorities have successfully recovered three stolen artworks by renowned artists Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse. The pieces, valued at millions, were taken earlier this year from a private museum near Parma. Five individuals have been detained in connection with this case.
The Italian Carabinieri’s art recovery team discovered the artworks in the possession of one of the suspects. This was part of a larger search operation in Parma and surrounding areas. The suspects are believed to be part of an organized crime group linked to multiple thefts.
The stolen items include Renoir’s painting Fish, Cézanne’s Still Life with Cherries, and Matisse’s Odalisque on the Terrace. Authorities have appraised the Cézanne at 6 million euros, the Renoir at 3 million euros, and the Matisse at 20,000 euros.
The heist occurred at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, located about 20 kilometers from Parma, on the night of March 22-23. Video evidence shows the suspects entering through a broken window and removing the artworks swiftly before escaping through the gardens.
Investigators found a pickaxe and a fire extinguisher at the crime scene, both with altered serial numbers. Reconstruction of these numbers led officials to a potential hideout connected to the criminal group. All suspects are Moldovan nationals living near Parma.
Established in 1977, the Magnani Rocca Foundation houses artworks by Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet. Local reports suggest the break-in involved a sophisticated gang.
Meanwhile, in Brazil, authorities have located eight stolen Matisse works near São Paulo. There are no direct connections between the Italian and Brazilian thefts. The Brazilian police retrieved the artworks during an apartment raid in São Bernardo do Campo, arresting one man at the scene.
The recovered Matisse works were valued at over 1 million reais. They are part of an ongoing investigation into a string of art thefts that began in December 2025. Five artworks by Brazilian artist Cândido Portinari remain missing.
Matisse, renowned for his expressive style, created these prints for an art book named Jazz, including pieces like Le Clown and La Nageuse Dans L’Aquarium.
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