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Armed robbers target rare art exhibition
Two masked men stole eight engravings by Henri Matisse and at least five by Cândido Portinari from a central São Paulo library on Sunday, Brazilian authorities confirmed.
How the theft unfolded
The suspects entered Biblioteca Mário de Andrade through the main doors at 10:00 local time (13:00 GMT). They overpowered a security guard and an elderly couple visiting the library before fleeing on foot toward the nearest metro station.
Targeted exhibition on final day
The stolen works were part of From Book to Museum, a joint exhibition with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art. The show closed on Sunday, its last scheduled day.
Among the missing pieces is a Matisse collage created for the limited-edition art book Jazz, according to Folha de São Paulo. The thieves also took Portinari engravings that illustrated a special edition of José Lins do Rego's novel Menino de Engenho.
Investigation progress
Police have identified one suspect and are working to name the second. They also located the getaway vehicle used in the heist.
The library, Brazil's second-largest, is equipped with facial-recognition cameras, officials said.
Art world on alert
Matisse is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and experts describe the stolen works as priceless. Portinari, known for his depictions of rural laborers, ranks among Brazil's foremost Modernist painters.
The theft follows a high-profile jewelry heist at the Louvre in Paris less than two months ago, raising concerns about security at cultural institutions.
