Understand which rare Portinari engravings were stolen from Mário de Andrade

The works were part of an exhibition presented at the Library since October and were stolen during a theft this Sunday 7

December 7
2025
– 5:44 p.m.

(updated at 5:45 p.m.)

THE Mario de Andrade Library was the target of a theft this Sunday 7 in São Paulo. Criminals entered the premises armed, overpowered security guards and stole works of art before fleeing. In total, 13 prints were made – eight by Henri Matisse and five by Candido Portinari.

Illustration 'Menino Com Carneiro', present in a special edition of 'Menino do Engenho', by José Lins do Rego, with engravings by Candido Portinari. — Illustration ‘Menino Com Carneiro’, present in a special edition of ‘Menino do Engenho’, by José Lins do Rego, with engravings by Candido Portinari.

Photo: Reproduction of “Menino Com Carneiro” (1959)/Projeto Portinari / Estadão

Portinari implied a rare series, referring to the work Boy of ingenuityby José Lins do Rego. In 1959, a special edition of the book was launched by the Sociedade dos Cem Bibliófilos do Brasil. The institution was founded in 1943 by Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya, inspired by the Society of Hundred Bibliophiles of France, of which his father had been a member.

Over the years, the company has promoted a series of 23 editions of classics of Brazilian literature illustrated by renowned artists from the country. Among the authors are names such as Machado de Assis, Jorge Amado and Mario de Andrade. Among the illustrators, Di Cavalcanti, Djanira, Poty, Isabel Pons, as well as Portinari himself, among others.

Print runs were limited to members and copies bore the owner’s registration number with the Société des Cent Bibliophiles.

According to information from Grupo Globo História, the engravings were printed under the direction of Poty Lazzarotto, Castro Maya and Cypriano Amoroso Costa. The book tells the story of Carlinhos, a boy who encounters tragedy: his father murdered his mother. He must therefore live on his grandfather’s plantation, on the banks of the Paraíba River.

Portinari had already been inspired by the author’s work. Before, in 1953, the magazine Cruise published extracts from Cangaceirosby Lins do Rego, with illustrations by Portinari.

The stolen works were part of the exhibition From Book to Museum: MAM São Paulo at the Mario de Andrade Library, on display since October 4 and which will close its doors this Sunday.

According to information from the Projeto Portinari website, the special edition included a total of 30 engravings by the artist spread across the 203 pages of the book. They are: