Italian police recover stolen Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse worth 9 mn euros

The National Times - Italian police recover stolen Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse worth 9 mn euros

Italian police recover stolen Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse worth 9 mn euros / Photo: © ITALIAN CARABINIERI PRESS OFFICE/AFP

Paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse worth over nine million euros which were stolen from a museum in Italy in March have been recovered, Italian police said Friday.

Change text size:

The paintings were taken by masked thieves from the villa of the Magnani Rocca Foundation, near Parma in northern Italy, in a heist that lasted under three minutes.

Video footage released by the police showed two thieves wearing headlamps and with their faces covered entering the villa by breaking through a window.

They headed straight into the room where the three paintings hung and took them off the wall, before heading back to the window and passing them through to an accomplice waiting outside.

They made off with "Fish" by Auguste Renoir, "Still Life with Cherries" by Paul Cezanne, and "Odalisque on the Terrace" by Henri Matisse.

The Renoir is worth six million euros, the Cezanne three million and the Matisse some 20,000 euros, police said.

The Magnani Rocca Foundation -- 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Parma -- houses the collection of art historian Luigi Magnani, which also includes works by Durer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya and Monet.

The theft is the latest in a series of robberies targeting major museums in Europe.

Last October, thieves broke into the Louvre in Paris -- the most visited museum in the world -- in broad daylight, escaping in less than eight minutes with jewellery worth $102 million.

T.F.Russell--TNT

Gypsy Rose Blanchard Leaves Ken Urker Memorial After Sibling Tension

Gypsy Rose Blanchard attended the Celebration of Life for Ken Urker in Austin on Saturday but left shortly after arriving when she saw Urker’s sister, Autumn. Blanchard had delivered a speech at the service before stepping out to avoid an encounter with Autumn, who has publicly criticized her following Urker's death.

Jon Tickle Reunites with Big Brother Co-Stars Following MND Diagnosis

Big Brother legend Jon Tickle has shared a rare reunion with his former co-stars from the show’s fourth series, more than twenty years after their initial run. The gathering occurred shortly after the 52-year-old physicist publicly confirmed his diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease, prompting an outpouring of support from his former television colleagues.

Katy Perry Tells Fans Ex-Husband Russell Brand 'Should Be in Jail' During UK Concert

Katy Perry has recalled a past concert moment where she told fans that her ex-husband Russell Brand 'should be in jail,' a statement that has taken on renewed significance following his recent criminal convictions. The singer made the remark during a question-and-answer session at the Blenheim Palace Festival last July, before Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.

The National Times - Italian police recover stolen Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse worth 9 mn euros