Parma, August 14, 2026 – A well-organized gang of thieves had stolen three paintings by Cezanne, Renoir, and Matisse from the Magnani Rocca Foundation in Mamiano, in the province of Parma. Now those paintings have been recovered by the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Parma and the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit, following a complex investigation and during searches authorized by the Parma Prosecutor’s Office.
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The theft occurred between March 22 and 23
The theft took place during the night between March 22 and 23. The three stolen paintings were “Tasse et plat de cerises” by Paul Cezanne, “Les Poisson” by Pierre Auguste Renoir, and “Odalisque Sur La Terrasse” by Henri Matisse.
In total, the estimated value exceeds 9 million euros. The Carabinieri’s investigations into the case are still ongoing.
Scrutinizing the surveillance footage: here’s what the investigators analyzed
The surveillance cameras had captured a group of at least 4 criminals, all with their faces covered by hoods.
The heist in less than 3 minutes and the mistake made by the gang
The thieves entered the Magnani Rocca Foundation museum in Traversetolo after sawing through the bars of a perimeter gate.
Scientific examinations for biological traces and fingerprints were carefully conducted, especially on a fourth painting, abandoned in the museum when the alarm system was triggered.
The raid in the “Villa of Masterpieces” – which houses the prestigious permanent collection of Luigi Magnani – reportedly took place in a very short time: less than three minutes.
The criminals then reportedly escaped through the fields.
What the stolen and recovered masterpieces are, what they depict, and their value
‘Still Life with Cherries‘, a precious and rare watercolor on paper (38×49 centimeters) by Paul Cézanne, was located in the French room. Created around 1890, it depicts a simple interior composed of a table with a cup and a plate full of red fruits. Its estimated value is 6 million euros.
‘Les Poissons‘ by Pierre-Auguste Renoir is an impressionist masterpiece from 1917, oil on canvas measuring 40 x 51.5 cm. It was created in the artist’s final years. Its estimated value is 3 million euros. In this work, nature is the absolute protagonist, the figures lose their contours, and the colors are vivid.
‘Odalisque on the Terrace‘, the aquatint by Henri Matisse, is a work valued at about 20 thousand euros. Made in color on paper, it measures 63 x 91 centimeters and was restored in 2014. In this 1922 work, the Fauves master combines the colors of the French Riviera with the exoticism of the East.
