At least 13 artworks – including eight by French artist Henri Matisse – were stolen from São Paulo’s Mário de Andrade Library at the weekend – only weeks after the brazen jewel heist at the Louvre
The moment brazen thieves carried “priceless” paintings through the streets of Brazil that had been stolen in a daring robbery in São Paulo has been caught on camera. At least 13 artworks – including eight by French artist Henri Matisse – were taken from São Paulo’s Mário de Andrade Library on Sunday (December 7).
Footage has been released of the robbers strolling through the streets as they passed unassuming pedestrians with a bag containing the precious art. Only moments before the gunmen had held up a security guard and an elderly couple.
After leaving in a getaway car, one of the suspects carried multiple canvases before putting them down on the side of the road and fleeing, footage released by São Paulo authorities shows.
Another video shows a suspect picking up artworks and crossing the road with them held over their head. Despite police securing the “escape vehicle” and arresting one of the suspects, authorities have revealed the artwork is yet to be recovered.
At 10:00 (13:00 GMT) on Sunday (December 7) the thieves reportedly entered the prestigious venue by its main entrance before allegedly leaving by the same route and heading towards the nearest metro station.
The stolen engravings were part of a joint exhibition with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art and the criminals reportedly targeted the exhibition, entitled From Book to Museum, on its final day which showcased more than 30 artists.
The raid comes just weeks after the dramatic jewel heist at the Louvre when thieves disguised themselves as construction workers and stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels.
Alongside Matisse’s engravings stolen in this latest robbery, artworks by Candido Portinari, a Brazilian modernist painter, were also taken, according to Brazilian media.
Police added that a man had been arrested after being “identified following investigative work and analysis of security cameras that recorded the criminal act”.
Art experts have said the works are unlikely to enter the commercial market because of their rarity and the attention given to the heist.
The stolen pieces included prints from Matisse’s 1947 book Jazz, which auction house Sotheby’s has described as being among his seminal works.
São Paulo’s City Hall said: “Their value is cultural, historical and artistic … economically, they are priceless.”
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