Major Art Theft at Magnani Rocca Foundation Near Parma
Paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse, valued at millions of euros, were stolen in a robbery at a museum near the Italian city of Parma, according to police reports.
On 22 March, four masked individuals entered the Magnani Rocca Foundation villa and made off with three significant works: Les Poissons by Renoir, Still Life with Cherries by Cézanne, and Odalisque on the Terrace by Matisse.
Italian media reported that the thieves were in and out of the premises within three minutes. Their actions were interrupted only by the museum's alarm system, which prevented the theft of additional artworks.
This incident follows a series of high-profile art thefts, including the audacious daylight robbery of priceless jewels from the Louvre in Paris last October.
Details of the Heist
The perpetrators forced entry through the main door of the Villa dei Capolavori, located in the Parma countryside. They targeted the French Room on the building's first floor, where the paintings were displayed, according to Italian news sources.
The Magnani Rocca Foundation described the group as
"structured and organised", suggesting they intended to steal more pieces if not for the activation of the private collection's alarms and the subsequent police response.
Regional public broadcaster TGR, which first reported the theft, stated that the criminals escaped by climbing over a fence.
The combined estimated value of the stolen paintings is approximately €9 million (£7.8 million), with Renoir's Les Poissons alone valued at €6 million. This makes the theft one of the most significant art crimes in Italy in recent years.
About the Stolen Paintings
Renoir, a leading figure in the Impressionist movement, painted Les Poissons around 1917. The work is an oil-on-canvas piece.
Cézanne's Still Life with Cherries, created circa 1890, is among several cherry-themed still lifes he produced. This particular piece is notable for its use of watercolour, a medium Cézanne adopted only in his later years, as noted by the foundation.
Odalisque on the Terrace, painted by Matisse in 1922, portrays two figures: one reclining in the sunlight and another holding a violin.
Ongoing Investigation
The theft is currently under investigation by Italy's Carabinieri and the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit based in Bologna. The news of the robbery was made public on Sunday.
About the Magnani Rocca Foundation
The Magnani Rocca Foundation was established in 1984 following the death of Luigi Magnani, a composer and art collector. The foundation is housed in his family home.
