SAO PAULO: Thirteen pieces of valuable artwork were stolen over the weekend from a public library in Sao Paulo, Brazil, by two armed thieves, local authorities said. The robbers reportedly held up a security guard and a couple visiting the library before escaping with the stolen pieces.
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The stolen artwork included works by French modernist Henri Matisse and Brazilian painter Candido Portinari. Police confirmed that five engravings by Portinari, originally from his 1959 book Menino de Engenho, were taken, while the titles and value of the eight Matisse pieces have not been disclosed.
A brazen art heist from a library in São Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday has left 13 artworks missing, including eight engravings by famed French painter Henri Matisse.
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One suspect has been arrested following a detailed analysis of surveillance footage, police said. The suspect was apprehended in central Sao Paulo, but authorities have not confirmed whether any of the stolen art has been recovered.
The pieces were on display as part of a joint exhibit between the library and the Sao Paulo Museum of Modern Art, which opened in October. Matisse, regarded as one of the 20th century’s most influential artists, has works that regularly sell for millions of dollars; a collection of his drawings recently sold for $2.5 million at Christie’s auction.
Authorities continue to investigate the robbery, urging anyone with information about the missing artworks to come forward. Security measures at cultural institutions across the city are expected to be reviewed following the high-profile heist.
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The arrest of one suspect marks a first step toward recovering the stolen pieces, but the investigation remains ongoing. Police are working to identify and apprehend the second thief, while safeguarding the integrity of remaining exhibitions.