Italian authorities announced the recovery of three stolen paintings by French artists Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir from a museum close to Parma. The Carabinieri officers found the artworks in an apartment in Parma and are investigating nine Moldovan nationals in connection with the theft.
The paintings, including Cezanne’s “Tasse et Plat de Cerises,” Renoir’s “Les Poissons,” and Matisse’s “Odalisque sur la Terrasse,” were stolen from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca museum in Mamiano di Traversetolo on the night of March 22-23. The estimated value of the recovered paintings exceeds €9 million ($14.4 million).
Authorities released a video showing the theft, where two masked burglars entered through a window, swiftly removed the paintings from the wall, and fled the scene in a matter of minutes. The Fondazione Magnani Rocca is known for its private collection, curated by the late music critic Luigi Magnani, featuring works by renowned artists like Titian, Francisco Goya, and Claude Monet.
The recovery of these valuable artworks marks a significant milestone in the investigation into the art heist that captured international attention earlier this year.