Italian police recover stolen Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse artworks worth millions

Italian authorities recovered three artworks by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse worth millions of euros that were stolen earlier this year from a private museum near the northern city of Parma, police said on Friday.

A statement from the Italian Carabinieri’s art recovery squad said the artworks were discovered during searches ordered by prosecutors, but no details were given. The investigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Brazilian police said late on Thursday that they had located eight stolen works by Matisse following an apartment raid outside Sao Paulo. The two law enforcement operations were apparently unconnected.

The three artworks recovered in Italy are “Fish”, a painting by Auguste Renoir, “Still Life with Cherries”, a pencil and watercolour by Paul Cezanne, and “Odalisque on the Terrace”, a colour aquatint by Henri Matisse.

Authorities said the Cezanne was valued at €6 million (US$7 million), the Renoir at €3 million and the Matisse at €20,000.

The heist at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, about 20km (12 miles) from Parma, took place on the night of March 22-23, with thieves forcing open the entrance door, police said.

Local media reported that the thieves took the paintings in less than three minutes and escaped across the museum gardens.