Brazilian police recover eight Matisse Jazz engravings stolen from São Paulo library in December 2025
Brazilian police recovered eight engravings from Henri Matisse's 1947 Jazz series on August 13, 2026, eight months after they were stolen from a São Paulo library exhibition. Five works by Cândido Portinari remain missing.
The theft
On December 7, 2025, the final day of the exhibition "Dal libro al museo: MAM São Paulo e la Biblioteca Mário de Andrade," two armed men stormed the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade in central São Paulo. They immobilized a female guard and an elderly couple, then fled within minutes carrying 13 artworks in a bag. The stolen pieces comprised eight engravings from Henri Matisse's celebrated "Jazz" series, created in 1947, and five works by Brazilian modernist painter Cândido Portinari (1903–1962). The Matisse engravings, part of the library's own collection, were titled "Le Clown," "Le Cirque," "Monsieur Loyal," "Cauchemar de l'Éléphant Blanc," "Les Codomas," "La Nageuse dans l'Aquarium," "L'Avaleur de Sabres," and "Le Cowboy."
Recovery
On Thursday, August 13, São Paulo state police recovered the eight Matisse engravings in a residence in São Bernardo do Campo, in the metropolitan area of São Paulo. Police images showed the vividly colored compositions from the 1947 "Jazz" album laid out on a bed beside a firearm. A man found at the property was arrested on charges of receiving stolen goods and illegal firearm possession; police said he was guarding the works on behalf of the crime's mastermind. The recovered engravings were subsequently returned to the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade. Their value was reported at over 1 million reais (approximately 166,000 euros) by ANSA citing O Globo, while AFP-sourced articles placed them at about $200,000 (over 173,000 euros).
- Matisse (recovered)
- 8 works
- Portinari (missing)
- 5 works
Investigation timeline
The day after the theft, one suspect was identified through the city's facial recognition system. Later in December 2025, two men and a woman were arrested after review of security camera footage from the area. In April 2026, Federal Police in Rio de Janeiro arrested the alleged mastermind while he was attempting to bribe a public-place guard to carry out another art theft. Two additional members of the organization were arrested during that operation. A woman also remains in custody under investigation for the original theft. In May, police conducted operations at establishments linked to the auction and art-trade market in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, São Bernardo do Campo, and Diadema.
- Two armed men raid Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, steal 13 artworks
- One suspect arrested via city facial recognition system
- Two men and a woman arrested after security camera review
- Alleged mastermind arrested in Rio de Janeiro while bribing a guard
- Police raid auction houses and art-trade premises in four cities
- Eight Matisse engravings recovered in São Bernardo do Campo
The Portinari works
The five works by Cândido Portinari stolen alongside the Matisse engravings have not been recovered. Police believe they may have already been sold. The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat described the theft as the work of a gang specialized in stealing artworks.
Organized gang
Police described the group as operating with a clear structure and division of roles.
The group acted in a structured manner, with prior planning and a division of tasks for the theft, the receiving and the introduction of this cultural heritage onto the black market.
The "Jazz" illustrated book by Matisse (1869–1954) was published in France in 1947, with 250 signed copies in existence according to Christie's auction house.
