Stolen artworks by Cézanne, Matisse and Renoir recovered by Italian police
Italian police have recovered three paintings by French masters Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse and Pierre-Auguste Renoir that were stolen from a museum near Parma in March, officials said on Friday.
In a heist during Sicily's annual Ferragosto holiday, four Renaissance artworks by Antonello da Messina were stolen from the regional museum in Messina. The thieves bypassed alarm systems on Saturday evening and left with three panels from the San Gregorio Polyptych and a double-sided panel of the Virgin Mary and dead Christ. The works, estimated at 70-80 million euros, were described by museum director Marisa Mercurio as central to the region's heritage.
Enzo Caruso, Messina's top culture official, called the theft a "disaster" and urged for its swift recovery. Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson warned that the stolen pieces, known for their recognition, would likely end up in the hands of other criminals. The museum remained closed for investigation as crowds celebrated the holiday nearby.
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