Thieves stole valuable paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse from a museum near Parma, Italy, as reported by the police. The burglary occurred on the night of March 22-23 when the thieves forcibly entered through the entrance door.
The stolen artworks include “Fish” by Renoir, “Still Life with Cherries” by Cézanne, and “Odalisque on the Terrace” by Matisse. The Magnani Rocca Foundation, a museum located about 20 kilometers from Parma, was targeted by the thieves who swiftly grabbed the paintings and fled through the museum gardens.
The foundation, established in 1977, houses the art collection of Luigi Magnani, featuring works by renowned artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet. Local media suggested that an organized gang carried out the theft, which was disrupted by the museum’s alarm system.
Although the museum did not issue any official statement regarding the theft and was unavailable for comment due to closure on Monday, it is believed that the crime was orchestrated by professionals. This incident follows a string of high-profile museum heists in Europe, including the notorious theft of jewels and valuables worth millions from the Louvre in Paris last October.
Italian art expert Claudio Strinati noted that the stolen paintings, while significant, are not the most prominent works by the artists. He mentioned that the theft might lead to a ransom demand, as art thefts are sometimes linked to extortion schemes.