Police Recover Eight Stolen Matisse Works in Brazil

Eight illustrations by French artist Henri Matisse that were stolen from the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade in São Paulo were recovered by police on Thursday. The works, which were part of a limited‑edition art book, had a combined estimated worth of about $200,000 (£148,000).

The stolen pieces were found in a home in São Bernardo do Campo, a suburb south of the capital, where a 44‑year‑old man was arrested on suspicion of storing the artworks for the thieves and of illegal firearm possession.

The original theft took place on 7 December, when two thieves overpowered a security guard and an elderly couple visiting the library, then fled with the artworks using the main entrance.

Investigators say the thieves placed the canvases in a canvas bag and headed toward the nearest metro station. Three other people related to the case have already been arrested.

While the Matisse works have been returned, five engravings by Brazilian artist Cândido Portinari are still missing. Police suspect these engravings may have been sold elsewhere. The library’s security has been bolstered following the incident.

Matisse, known for his influence on 20th‑century art, and Portinari, a key figure in Brazilian modernism, were featured in a joint exhibition with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art titled "From Book to Museum".