Italian and Brazilian Police Recover Stolen Artworks in Separate Raids

Italian authorities have successfully recovered three valuable artworks by renowned artists Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse. These pieces, valued at millions of euros, were stolen earlier this year from a private museum located near Parma, Italy. Reports from the Italian Carabinieri’s art recovery squad confirmed that five individuals have been detained. The artworks were found with a suspect during searches ordered by prosecutors across Parma and nearby provinces.

Those arrested are suspected members of an organized crime network accused of numerous burglaries across homes, businesses, and various properties. Additionally, police retrieved other stolen items worth tens of thousands of euros.

In a related yet separate operation, Brazilian authorities announced they had located eight stolen works by Matisse. The discovery followed a raid on an apartment near Sao Paulo. Police reported no apparent links between the Italian and Brazilian art thefts.

Details of Recovered Artworks

Among the artworks recovered in Italy are:

• “Fish” by Auguste Renoir, valued at 3 million euros ($3.5 million)
• “Still Life with Cherries” by Paul Cézanne, assessed at 6 million euros ($7 million)
• “Odalisque on the Terrace” by Henri Matisse, valued at 20,000 euros ($23,000)

The heist took place at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, situated approximately 20 kilometers from Parma, during the night of March 22-23. Surveillance footage captured the thieves entering via a broken window, swiftly removing the pieces from the walls, and escaping through the gardens.

The foundation curates the collection of art historian Luigi Magnani, showcasing works by artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet. Investigators obtained crucial evidence at the crime scene, including a pickaxe and a fire extinguisher with erased serial numbers. Forensic work enabled them to trace these items to a location linked to a gang member. All suspects in custody are Moldovan natives residing in the Parma area.

Separate Recovery in Brazil

In Brazil, eight Matisse works were found, valued collectively at over 1 million reais ($193,000). Sao Paulo police revealed that the prints were recovered in São Bernardo do Campo. Following the discovery, one individual was arrested for allegedly storing the artworks for another suspect, previously apprehended during a separate investigation in April.

The Brazilian case dates back to December 2025, when intruders stole 13 historical pieces, including works by Brazilian artist Cândido Portinari, from São Paulo’s Mário de Andrade library. Authorities have yet to recover five of the Portinari pieces.

Among the Matisse prints retrieved were “Le Clown”, “Le Cirque”, “Monsieur Loyal”, “Cauchemar de L’Eléphant Blanc”, “Le Codomas”, “La Nageuse Dans L’Aquarium”, “L’Avaleur de Sabres”, and “Le Cowboy”. These works were crafted for an art book titled “Jazz” by Matisse, a legendary artist of expressive and colorful style.