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Matisse & Portinari Art Stolen in São Paulo Heist
8 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Eight Matisse engravings and five Portinari works were stolen.
- Thieves held up a guard and a couple before escaping.
- The artworks were taken on foot towards a metro station.
A significant art theft occurred at a São Paulo library on Sunday morning when two armed men absconded with valuable artworks. The stolen pieces include eight engravings by the renowned French artist Henri Matisse and at least five by the celebrated Brazilian painter Cândido Portinari.
The brazen heist saw the thieves confront and subdue a security guard along with an elderly couple visiting the library. After securing the artworks, the perpetrators made their escape on foot, reportedly heading in the direction of a nearby metro station.
This art theft follows a series of high-profile incidents in the art world, highlighting ongoing security concerns. The perpetrators entered and exited the library through the main entrance around 10:00 AM, leaving authorities to investigate the sophisticated operation.
