Famous Impressionist Works Stolen from an Italian Museum
Several valuable works by world-famous impressionist painters were stolen from the private Manyani-Rokka museum located near the city of Parma, Italy. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
A police official confirmed this news to international agencies on Sunday, March 29, citing Italian media. According to special sources, the incident occurred a week ago, during the night from March 22 to March 23.
Among the stolen works are Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Fish" related to the evening period, Paul Cézanne's "Still Life with Cherries" created in pencil and watercolor, and Henri Matisse's watercolor "Odalisque on the Couch." Reports about the incident state that criminals with their faces hidden by hoods broke into the museum's entrance door and escaped through the garden in just three minutes.
Although the Manyani-Rokka Foundation considers this act a planned crime, due to the surveillance system and the quick intervention of police officers, the incident did not lead to more serious consequences. The estimated value of the stolen artworks is assessed in millions of euros, and the investigation is currently ongoing actively.
The collection of this foundation named after Luigi Manyani also preserves works by great painters such as Titian, Dürer, Rubens, and Goya. Additionally, this private museum is recognized as one of the most valuable and important art collections in Italy.
This incident is not the only sensational theft in the art world in recent months. On October 19, 2025, valuable jewelry belonging to French monarchs was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris, with their total value estimated at approximately 88 million euros.
The criminals also dropped the Empress Eugenie's crown decorated with diamonds and emeralds while escaping. According to reports, several individuals have been detained and some charged in connection with this case, but the jewelry has not yet been found.
It later became known that the individuals involved in the theft tried to negotiate with the Louvre, but the French museum rejected this proposal. Also, in November, a video circulated on the internet claiming to be filmed by the Ukrainian National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
It stated that the stolen items were found at the home of Ukrainian billionaire and former partner of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Timur Mindich. However, DW fact-check confirmed that this video is fake and part of it was created using artificial intelligence.
This incident has further intensified the attention of art historians, collectors, and the public, once again highlighting the security of valuable works at the international level.
