Italian police have recovered three paintings by renowned French artists Paul Cezanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri Matisse, around five months after they were stolen from a museum near Parma. Italy’s Carabinieri cultural heritage protection unit said the artworks were found following a complex investigation, with further details expected to be released.
The paintings were taken from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca museum in Mamiano di Traversetolo during the night of March 22-23. Art experts estimated their combined value at more than €9 million ($10.4 million). The recovered works include Cezanne’s Cup and Plate of Cherries, Renoir’s The Fish and Matisse’s Odalisque on the Terrace.
Police also released footage showing two masked burglars entering the museum through a window, removing the three paintings from the walls and escaping in less than three minutes. The Fondazione Magnani Rocca houses a private collection featuring works by major artists including Titian, Goya, Tiepolo, Monet, Rubens and Morandi.
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