Thieves stole three valuable paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse, collectively worth millions of euros from a museum near Parma in northern Italy, as reported by the police on Monday. The theft occurred overnight on March 22-23 when the culprits forcibly entered the museum 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 rural private museum situated about 20 kilometers from Parma, was the target of this heist. Local sources indicated that the thieves swiftly took the paintings and fled through the museum gardens, completing the theft in under three minutes.
The foundation, established in 1977, showcases the art collection of Luigi Magnani, featuring pieces by renowned artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet. According to reports, the museum suspects an organized criminal group carried out the theft, which triggered an alarm during the incident.
Despite the robbery, the museum did not issue any official statement on its website and remained unavailable for comments as it was closed on the day following the theft. This incident follows a series of high-profile museum heists in Europe, including the recent theft of jewels and valuable items worth 88 million euros from the Louvre in Paris.
Italian art expert Claudio Strinati expressed that the stolen paintings, though by notable artists, are not considered major works. He mentioned to The Associated Press that while Renoir’s painting is aesthetically pleasing, it is not among the foundation’s most significant pieces. Strinati also suggested that the theft might lead to a ransom demand, as art thefts are sometimes orchestrated for extortion purposes.
