Eight Matisse Works Among 13 Artworks Stolen From São Paulo Library; One Arrest Made

Thirteen artworks, including eight by French master Henri Matisse, were stolen from the Mário de Andrade Library in downtown São Paulo over the weekend, São Paulo authorities said.

According to officials, two armed men entered the library on Sunday and confronted a security guard and an elderly couple who were visiting the building. Police say one of the suspects was identified from security-camera footage and arrested in central São Paulo on Monday; investigators are still searching for the second suspect.

The stolen pieces included eight works attributed to Matisse and five engravings by Brazilian modernist Cândido Portinari. City hall officials said the Portinari engravings were illustrations from the 1959 book Menino de Engenho ("Plantation Boy"). Authorities have not disclosed the titles or appraisals for the Matisse works, and it was not immediately clear whether any of the items were recovered when the suspect was detained.

Exhibition Context and Security Details

The pieces had been displayed as part of a joint exhibition with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art that highlighted rare books and the rise of modernism in Brazil. The show opened in October and, according to the library’s website, concluded on Sunday.

Police said investigators identified a suspect after reviewing surveillance footage. Officials also reported they found the robbers’ getaway car and are continuing inquiries to locate the second suspect.

Brazilian outlet G1 circulated video that appears to show one of the thieves carrying several artworks down a street in daylight, propping them against a wall next to a pile of trash, and fleeing. The theft follows a recent high-profile burglary at the Louvre in Paris that renewed global scrutiny of museum and cultural-institution security.

Why This Matters

Matisse is one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century, and his works frequently fetch millions at auction. For context, a group of roughly 60 of his drawings sold for more than $2.5 million at Christie’s in October, and his auction record remains $80.8 million for Odalisque couchée aux magnolias (2018). The theft raises concerns about the protection of cultural heritage and the security of temporary exhibitions in public institutions.