Three iconic paintings by French masters Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, and Paul Cézanne were stolen in a bold, three-minute heist at the Magnani-Rocca Foundation, a private museum south of Parma, Italy.
The works-Renoir's Les Poissons, Cézanne's Still Life With Cherries, and Matisse's Odalisque On The Terrace-were taken from the Sala dei Francesi, known as the Room of the French. Investigators estimate their value at tens of millions of euros, though Rai reported a combined figure of €9 million.
Armed with balaclavas, the thieves forced entry and triggered the museum's alarm system, fleeing before they could take additional pieces. Authorities believe the group was highly organized.
The Magnani-Rocca Foundation, established in 1977, houses a private collection including works by Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Monet. Security footage is under review.
This heist follows a string of high-profile art thefts across Europe, including last October’s £76 million robbery at the Louvre.