Three priceless paintings by Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse, stolen last March from a museum near Parma, Italy, have been located and recovered by Italian authorities. The total value of the works is estimated to exceed €9 million.
The High-Speed Heist and Investigation
The burglary took place on the night of March 22-23 at the Magnani-Rocca Foundation (Fondazione Magnani-Rocca) in Traversetolo. According to police surveillance footage, two masked intruders entered the building through a window. Their movements were remarkably swift, as they managed to remove the artworks from the walls and exit the museum in less than three minutes.
The Carabinieri's specialized Cultural Heritage Protection unit carried out the recovery operation following a months-long investigation. Further details regarding the specifics of the operation are expected to be released shortly.
The Recovered Works
The stolen items now returning to the collection include:
- "Still Life with Cherries" (Tasse et plat de cerises) by Paul Cézanne, valued at approximately €6 million.
- "The Fish" (Les Poissons) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, valued at approximately €3 million.
- "Odalisque on the Terrace" (Odalisque sur la terrasse) by Henri Matisse, with an estimated value of €20,000.
The Magnani-Rocca Foundation houses the significant collection of art historian Luigi Magnani, which also features masterpieces by Dürer, Rubens, Goya, and Monet.
