Italian law enforcement officials successfully recovered three high-value paintings that were stolen from the Magnani Rocca Foundation near Parma earlier this year. The recovered pieces include Fish by Auguste Renoir, Still Life with Cherries by Paul Cézanne, and Odalisque on the Terrace by Henri Matisse.
Authorities located the works during a series of searches mandated by local prosecutors. The investigation into the theft remains active as police look into the circumstances of the recovery. The art pieces possess significant market value, with the Cézanne alone estimated at 6 million euros, while the Renoir is valued at 3 million euros and the Matisse at 20,000 euros.
The original theft occurred on the night of March 22-23. Thieves gained entry to the foundation by forcing open a door and managed to remove the paintings in less than three minutes before fleeing through the museum gardens. The Magnani Rocca Foundation, established in 1977, houses an extensive collection that features works by various masters, including Rubens, Goya, and Monet.
Police suspect an organized criminal gang carried out the operation. This incident is the latest in a string of major heists at European cultural institutions, including the October theft of French crown jewels and other items from the Louvre in Paris. The Carabinieri’s art recovery squad continues to work on the case, with further details expected as the inquiry proceeds.