Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse paintings stolen in three-minute museum heist

A gang of thieves has stolen multi-millionaire dollars paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse during a three-minute heist near the city of Parma.
According to reports, the incident occurred on March 22 when four masked men stormed the Magnani Rocca Foundation museum before carting away the valuable paintings in just under three minutes, triggering the villa’s alarm system, which prevented them from stealing more.
The paintings that were stolen included a 1917 completed the oil-on-canvas Les Poissons by Renoir, who was one of the leading painters in the Impressionist movement; the Still Life with Cherries painted by Cézanne around 1890 and the Odalisque on the Terrace completed by Matisse in 1922.
The stolen collection is estimated to be worth $10.6 million, with Les Poissons alone priced at $6.9 million, making the heist the most significant art thefts in Italy in recent years. The robbery was only made public on Sunday.
Reports noted the thieves broke into the museum through the main door to the Villa dei Capolavori, nestled in the Parma countryside and stole the items from the building’s first floor and escaped by climbing over a fence.
The incident is now being investigated by Italy’s Carabinieri and the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Bologna
The Magnani Rocca Foundation is the latest institution in Europe to become victim of highly-priced collection items heist after priceless jewels were stolen in daylight from the Louvre in Paris last October.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Police hunt killers of ex-Bauchi APC women leader
The command commiserated with the family, friends and political associates of the deceased.

States
Search underway for child swept away by river in Yobe
Mr Jalo stated that updates would be provided as more information becomes available.

NationWide
Nigerian Navy opens 2026 recruitment portal; see steps to apply
The portal highlights four basic steps for eligible candidates to apply.

NationWide
Makinde-Daura campaign organisation seeks quick rescue of abducted corpers
Makinde-Daura campaign organisation seeks quick rescue of abducted corpers

World
Probe launched into kidnapping, weapons theft charges against two Canadian soldiers
The national defence said the soldiers remain members of the CAF pending the outcome of an administrative review.

World
Houthis claim attacks on Aramco sites in Saudi Arabia
Mr Saree said the attacks were in response to what he described as Saudi “aggression” against Sanaa and other areas under Houthi control.





