Italian police reported yesterday that thieves stole three paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse, valued at millions of euros, from a museum near the city of Parma in northern Italy. The theft occurred during the night of March 22-23 after the perpetrators forced open the entrance door. The stolen paintings include "The Fish" by Auguste Renoir, "Still Life with Cherries" by Paul Cézanne, and "The Girl on the Balcony" by Henri Matisse. The Fondazione Magnani Rocca, a private museum, is located in the countryside 20 kilometers from Parma. Local media reported that the thieves managed to seize the paintings in less than three minutes. Founded in 1977, the Fondazione Magnani Rocca houses the collection of art historian Luigi Magnani, which also works by artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Monet. Local media indicated that the museum believes a structured and organized gang is behind this theft, which was thwarted by a security alarm.
