Masterpieces by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse Stolen in Daring Heist at Italian Private Museum

ROME — In a daring theft, three iconic paintings by renowned artists Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse have vanished from a museum situated near Parma, northern Italy. Authorities confirmed the heist on Monday, estimating the artworks’ value in the millions of euros.

Under the cover of night between March 22 and 23, the thieves executed their plan, breaking through the museum’s main entrance, according to police reports.

The masterpieces stolen include Auguste Renoir’s “Fish,” Paul Cézanne’s “Still Life with Cherries,” and Henri Matisse’s “Odalisque on the Terrace,” all of which hold significant cultural and monetary value.

The artworks were housed within the Magnani Rocca Foundation, a private museum nestled amid the serene countryside, approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the city of Parma.

Local media outlets have highlighted the audacity and speed of the theft, noting that the culprits managed to seize the paintings and make their escape through the museum gardens in under three minutes.

Established in 1977, the foundation hosts the collection of the art historian Luigi Magnani and also includes works by Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya and Monet.

The museum believes a structured and organized gang was responsible for the theft, which was interrupted by the alarm, local media reported.

The museum didn’t post any statement about the theft on its website and wasn’t reachable for a comment, because it’s closed on Monday.

The crime comes after a series of high-profile heists at major European museums, including a major incident in October where thieves stole jewels and other items worth 88 million euros ($101 million) from the Louvre in Paris.

Italian art expert Claudio Strinati said that the three stolen paintings are minor works from the three masters.

“Renoir’s painting, for example, is very beautiful, but, within the context of the foundation as a whole, it isn’t among the most important works,” he told The Associated Press.

Strinati also said the heist could be followed by a ransom request.

“Art thefts can indeed be carried out for the purpose of extortion,” he said.