PARMA — The theft occurred overnight on March 22-23 at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, located approximately 12 miles (19km) from Parma. Police released CCTV footage showing two masked burglars entering through a window, removing the paintings from the wall, and exiting the building in less than three minutes.

A fourth painting was abandoned inside the museum after the alarm system was triggered. The Carabinieri, Italy’s military police, said in a statement that the recovery had followed 'a complex investigation' overseen by the Parma public prosecutor’s office. The paintings were found during searches ordered by prosecutors.

Investigators recovered a pickaxe and a fire extinguisher with removed serial numbers at the scene, which were linked to an apartment building accessible to one of the suspects. Nine people, including women, are under investigation for the theft and alleged criminal conspiracy.

The chief of police in Parma, Andrea Pagliaro, news agency on Friday that nine Moldovans were being investigated in connection with the theft, and that five of them were believed to have carried out the burglary. The five detained suspects are believed to belong to an organized crime group responsible for numerous thefts of homes, businesses, and other properties.

Why It Matters

The recovery of works valued at more than $10 million shows the scale of art theft targeting cultural institutions. The involvement of an organized crime group suggests a pattern of property crimes extending beyond single high-profile heists.

The parallel recovery of Matisse works in Brazil demonstrates international coordination in tracking stolen art. Both cases involve the return of cultural assets to their original institutions following complex investigations.

Timeline

The theft occurred overnight on March 22-23 at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, located approximately 12 miles (19km) from Parma. Earlier coverage on 2026-07-07 reported: Can Oakland’s stolen museum artifacts still be recovered? A former FBI art crime sleuth says yes.

Earlier coverage on 2026-07-16 reported: How an Italian sculptor created the World Cup trophy after the iconic Jules Rimet was stolen twice.

What's New

The three recovered paintings are Fish by Auguste Renoir, Still Life with Cherries by Paul Cézanne, and Odalisque on the Terrace by Henri Matisse. Authorities said the Cézanne was valued at €6m ($7m), the Renoir at €3m ($3.5m), and the Matisse at €20,000 ($23,000).

The paintings are 'Tasse et plat de cerises' by Paul Cezanne, 'Les Poisson' by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and 'Odalisque Sur La Terrasse' by Henri Matisse. The total estimated value exceeds €9 million.

The chief of police in Parma, Andrea Pagliaro, news agency on Friday that nine Moldovans were being investigated in connection with the theft, and that five of them were believed to have carried out the burglary. Five suspects born in Moldova and residing in the Parma area were detained in connection with the theft.

The Carabinieri, Italy’s military police, said in a statement that the recovery had followed 'a complex investigation' overseen by the Parma public prosecutor’s office. Investigators recovered a pickaxe and a fire extinguisher with removed serial numbers at the scene, which were linked to an apartment building accessible to one of the suspects.

Earlier coverage on 2026-07-16 reported: How an Italian sculptor created the World Cup trophy after the iconic Jules Rimet was stolen twice. Earlier coverage on 2026-07-07 reported: Can Oakland’s stolen museum artifacts still be recovered? A former FBI art crime sleuth says yes.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the valuation and titles of the recovered works. PBS.org stated the three recovered paintings are Fish by Auguste Renoir, Still Life with Cherries by Paul Cézanne, and Odalisque on the Terrace by Henri Matisse, with authorities valuing the Cézanne at €6m ($7m), the Renoir at €3m ($3.5m), and the Matisse at €20,000 ($23,000).

The Italian Carabinieri art recovery squad statement listed the recovered works as Cézanne’s 'Still Life with Cherries' (valued at about $7 million), Renoir’s 'Fish' (valued at $3.5 million), and Matisse’s 'Odalisque on the Terrace' (valued at $23,000). The initial statement noted only that Italian police recovered three paintings by Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse that were stolen from the Magnani Rocca Foundation without providing individual titles or values.