São Paulo, Brazil – December 8, 2025: Eight artworks by Henri Matisse and five by Brazilian modernist painter Candido Portinari were stolen from the Mário de Andrade Library in downtown São Paulo over the weekend, Brazilian authorities confirmed.

The theft occurred on Sunday when two armed thieves entered the library, held up a security guard and an elderly couple visiting the facility, and made off with the rare art pieces. One of the suspects was arrested Monday following an investigation that analyzed security camera footage. Authorities are still searching for the second suspect.

Details of the Stolen Works

The eight Matisse pieces were part of a special exhibit in collaboration with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art, which highlighted rare books and the evolution of modernism in Brazil. Officials have not disclosed the titles or estimated value of Matisse’s works, but a recent auction in October sold a series of his drawings for more than $2.5 million. The record price for a Matisse, Odalisque couchée aux magnolias, reached $80.8 million in 2018.

The five Portinari works were engraved illustrations from the 1959 book Menino de Engenho (“Plantation Boy”), according to the São Paulo city government.

Investigation and Arrest

Brazilian police tracked and arrested one suspect in central São Paulo after reviewing security footage and conducting investigative work. The authorities also recovered the robbers’ getaway vehicle.

Video footage aired by Brazilian news site G1 showed one thief carrying several artworks through a street in daylight before abandoning them against a wall and fleeing.

International Context

This high-profile theft comes less than two months after a jewelry heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where thieves stole items worth approximately $100 million within minutes. The São Paulo theft has sparked renewed scrutiny of security protocols at cultural institutions worldwide.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident, seeking to recover all stolen pieces and apprehend the second suspect.