A number of valuable works by famous Impressionist artists were stolen from the private Magnani-Rocca Museum near Parma. A police spokesman confirmed to AFP on Sunday, March 29, a report by Italian media. According to specialized sources, the incident occurred a week ago, on the night of March 22-23.
Among the stolen works are Pierre-Auguste Renoir's late painting "Fish", Paul Cezanne's "Still Life with Cherries" in pencil and watercolor, and Henri Matisse's watercolor "Odalisque on the Porch". The thieves, whose faces were hidden by hoods, reportedly broke into the museum's entrance and fled through the garden in just three minutes.
Although the Magnani-Rocca Foundation described the attack as a "planned crime," the incident was prevented by CCTV footage and the swift intervention of police and security services. The estimated value of the stolen works is estimated at millions of euros, and an investigation is underway.
Paul Cezanne's "Still Life with Cherries," a pencil and watercolor painting
The Luigi Magnani Foundation also houses works by famous artists such as Titian, Dürer, Rubens, and Goya. The private museum is also recognized as one of the most valuable and important art collections in Italy.
This incident is not the only high-profile theft in the art world in recent months. On October 19, 2025, a large number of valuable jewels belonging to the French monarchs were stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris, with a total value of approximately 88 million euros. The criminals also dropped the crown of Empress Eugenie, which was decorated with diamonds and emeralds, while fleeing.
According to reports, several people have been arrested in connection with the case and some have been charged, but the jewels have not yet been found. It later turned out that the individuals involved in the theft tried to negotiate with the Louvre, but the French museum rejected this offer.
Also in November, a video circulated online purporting to have been filmed by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, showing stolen items being found at the home of Ukrainian billionaire and former ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Timur Mindych. DW Fact Check confirmed that the video was fake and that some of it was created using artificial intelligence.
The incident has further heightened the attention of art historians, collectors and the public, and has once again highlighted the security of internationally valuable works of art.
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