Italian authorities have recovered three stolen paintings by Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse, valued at millions of euros, that were taken earlier this year from a private museum near Parma.
The Carabinieri’s art recovery squad announced the recovery on Friday, stating the paintings were found during searches initiated by prosecutors. The investigation into the theft is ongoing, and no further details about the discovery were immediately provided.
The recovered works include Renoir's "Fish," Cézanne's "Still Life with Cherries," and Matisse's "Odalisque on the Terrace." Authorities reported the Cézanne painting is valued at approximately 6 million euros ($7 million), the Renoir at 3 million euros ($3.5 million), and the Matisse at 20,000 euros ($23,000).
The heist occurred on the night of March 22-23 at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Parma. According to police, thieves forced open an entrance door and reportedly escaped with the paintings in under three minutes, traversing the museum's gardens.
The Magnani Rocca Foundation, established in 1977, houses the collection of art historian Luigi Magnani, which also features works by artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet.
Museum officials suspect a well-organized group was responsible for the theft, which was interrupted by the museum's alarm system. The incident follows a series of high-profile art thefts in major European museums, including the October theft of French crown jewels and other items valued at 88 million euros ($101 million) from the Louvre in Paris.