Masterpieces worth 9 million found: results of a high-profile case in Italy

Carabinieri found stolen works by French Impressionists five months later. The brazen crime took place in a private museum near Parma. Paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse, worth over nine million euros in total, have been returned. Nine suspects are involved, including Moldovan citizens.

Italy's Carabinieri have discovered and returned three stolen paintings by French Impressionists nearly five months after a daring robbery at the private Magnani-Rocca Foundation museum near Parma. The crime occurred on March 23: four masked intruders broke through the villa's doors, went up to the 'French Room' on the second floor, and in less than three minutes removed three paintings from the walls, escaping before the alarm went off. The works are 'Still Life with Cherries' by Paul Cézanne (circa 1890, valued at about six million euros), 'Fish' by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1917, three million euros), and 'Odalisque on the Terrace' by Henri Matisse (an aquatint from 1922, worth several tens of thousands of euros). The total value exceeds nine million euros. During the investigation, which initially suggested the involvement of an international group, detectives traced leads to Moldovan citizens. Nine suspects are named in the case. The paintings were found during searches of a residence in Parma; they were being sold through closed international channels. After expert examinations are completed, the paintings will return to the museum's collection, founded by collector Luigi Magnani.