Discover the works of Portinari and Matisse stolen in SP. See the photos

Two criminals broke into the Mário de Andrade Library and stole 13 works of art by Cândido Portinari and Henry Matisse that were on display at the Mário de Andrade Library, in the center of São Paulo, last Sunday (12/7).

According to the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo (MAM), eight prints from the “Jazz” series by Henri Matisse and five prints from the “Menino de Engenho” series by Candido Portinari have been removed. See the photos:

13 imagesClose the modal.1 of 13

Man on horseback with a boy on his back – 1959, work by Cândido Portinari stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall2 of 13

Dead woman, work by Cândido Portinari stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall3 of 13

Fire in Canavial, work by Cândido Portinari stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall4 of 13

Dead Man, work by Cândido Portinari stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall5 of 13

Metis arrested in Tronco, work by Cândido Portinari stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall6 of 13

The Coyboy, work by Henry Matisse stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall7 of 13

The Sword Swallower, a work by Henry Matisse stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall8 of 13

The Swimmer in the Tank, work by Henry Matisse stolen from the Biiblioteca Mário de Andrade

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall9 of 13

The Codomas, a work by Henry Matisse stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall10 of 13

The Nightmare of the White Elephant, work by Henry Matisse stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall11 of 13

Monsieur Loyal, work by Henry Matisse stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall12 of 13

The Circus, a work by Henry Matisse stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall13 of 13

The Clown, by Henry Matisse, stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

Disclosure/São Paulo City Hall

THE Metropolises noted that the works are: The Clown, The Circus, Ringmaster, The Nightmare of the White Elephant, The Codomas, The Swimmer in the Tank, The Sword Swallower, The Cowboy, by Matisse; and Man on Horseback with a Boy on his Back, Metis Trapped in a Log, Dead Man Burning in the Cane Field and Dead Woman, by Portinari.

The insurance values of the subtracted works have not yet been disclosed due to contract secrecy.

The prints were part of the exhibition From Book to Museum, which celebrated the meeting of the collections of the MAM and the Mário de Andrade Library (BMA). The theft took place on the last day of the exhibition.

Interpol activated

The City of São Paulo announced, this Monday (8/12), that it had activated Interpol, through the Federal Police (PF), to prevent the works of art stolen from the Mário de Andrade Library this Sunday (7) from leaving Brazil.

The municipal administration states in the press release that Interpol has an application and a global database capable of assisting in the search and recovery of stolen works.

In addition to the international body, the town hall declared having informed the Brazilian Institute of Museums (Ibram), through the National Register of Missing Museum Assets (CBMD); and the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan), through the Bank of Inquired Cultural Property. In addition, the city hall reported the crime to the Brazilian Association of Art Galleries (AGAB).

Suspects identified

The two suspects of having invaded and stolen the works of art were identified by the civil police thanks to the images captured by Smart Sampa.

The criminals took away eight engravings by French artist Henri Matisse and five engravings by Brazilian Candido Portinari.

The cameras of SmartSampa, the surveillance system of São Paulo City Hall, recorded the action of the men who invaded the Mário de Andrade library.

4 picturesClose the modal.1 of 4

Space stolen from the Mário de Andrade library

2 of 4

Works by Matisse in the Mário de Andrade library before the flight

Disclosure/MAM3 of 4

Mario de Andrade Library

Credit: Édson Lopes Jr/Secom4 of 4

Mario de Andrade Library

Reproduction / Facebook

The images were recorded at 10:43 a.m. After the robbery, the thieves are seen parking a van on Rua João Adolfo, near Avenida Nove de Julho. The two remove the works from the vehicle and walk along the sidewalk.

What the authorities say

According to the town hall, which manages the space, the place has a camera system and the equipment will be provided to the police authorities. The library underwent a forensic examination. The administration specifies that the works have an insurance policy.

In a statement, the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) informed that the Civil Police is making efforts to identify and arrest the two men who stole the eight historical paintings and documents.

The case was registered at the 2nd DP (Bom Retiro) and is the subject of an investigation by the 1st Specialized Center for the Repression of Crimes and Miscellaneous Events (Cerco).