Italian police recover three paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse stolen from museum near Parma

Italian police announced on Friday the recovery of three paintings by Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse that were stolen during the night of 22–23 March from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca, a private museum located near Parma in northern Italy. The recovery was carried out by the Carabinieri's cultural heritage protection unit following what police described as a complex investigation ordered by prosecutors.

The three works retrieved are Renoir's 'Fish' (also titled 'Les Poissons'), Cézanne's 'Still Life with Cherries' (also referred to as 'Tasse et Plat de Cerises' — 'Cup and Plate of Cherries' — according to The Straits Times), and Matisse's 'Odalisque on the Terrace' ('Odalisque sur la Terrasse').

Both sources reported that the theft lasted less than three minutes. According to The Straits Times, police released a video of the incident showing two masked burglars entering via a window, taking the three paintings from the wall, and immediately leaving the building. According to the Associated Press, local media reported that the thieves escaped across the museum gardens and that the alarm interrupted the theft.

The Carabinieri statement said the paintings were found during prosecutor-ordered searches, but gave no further details. The investigation is described as ongoing.

The Fondazione Magnani Rocca is located in Mamiano di Traversetolo, approximately 20 kilometres from Parma, according to the AP. Established in 1977, the foundation holds a private collection assembled by the late art historian and music critic Luigi Magnani. Both sources note the collection also includes works by Goya, Monet and Rubens, among other masters.

According to the AP, the museum believes a structured and organised gang was responsible for the theft.

Where sources differ

• The combined value of the three paintings differs between sources: AP reports individual valuations totalling approximately 9.02 million euros (Cézanne at €6 million, Renoir at €3 million, Matisse at €20,000), while The Straits Times states that art experts put the combined estimated value at more than €9 million ($10.4 million).
• The title of the Cézanne work differs slightly: AP refers to it as 'Still Life with Cherries', while The Straits Times gives the French title 'Tasse et Plat de Cerises', translated as 'Cup and Plate of Cherries'.
• AP describes Luigi Magnani as an 'art historian', while The Straits Times describes him as a 'music critic'.
• AP states the thieves forced open the entrance door to gain entry, while The Straits Times, citing the police video, says the burglars entered via a window.

• No suspects have been publicly named or charged in connection with the theft.
• The exact location where the paintings were recovered has not been disclosed by any source.
• The identity or number of individuals involved in the theft has not been confirmed by authorities in either source.
• The condition of the recovered paintings has not been reported.
• No comment from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca is directly quoted in either source.
• The discrepancy between 'art historian' and 'music critic' as descriptions of Luigi Magnani is not resolved by either source.

1. Associated Press — original
2. The Straits Times — by The Straits Times

Read the original at Associated Press

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