A daring daytime heist struck the historic Mário de Andrade Library in downtown São Paulo on Sunday, December 7, 2025, when two armed men walked in during public visiting hours and stole thirteen works of art. The suspects threatened a security guard and an elderly couple before smashing a glass display case to take the pieces, then fled on foot, reportedly heading toward the nearby Anhangabaú metro station. Surveillance footage captured one of the thieves carrying several framed works down the street, illustrating the audacity of the robbery.
Among the stolen artworks were eight engravings by the renowned French artist Henri Matisse, including collages from his 1947 limited-edition book Jazz, and five works by iconic Brazilian painter Candido Portinari. These works were part of the exhibition Do livro ao museu (“From the Book to the Museum”), organized in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo.
Police acted quickly after reviewing security camera footage, arresting one suspect the following day and seizing the getaway vehicle for forensic analysis. Authorities have issued an international alert, warning that the stolen pieces, due to their global significance, are unlikely to appear on the legitimate art market. The local culture secretariat emphasized that the stolen artworks hold profound cultural, historical, and artistic value, which cannot be measured solely in monetary terms.
Experts have noted that the theft highlights vulnerabilities in public cultural institutions such as libraries and smaller museums, which often lack the security resources of high-profile galleries. The loss of Matisse’s Jazz prints and Portinari’s works represents not only a substantial financial blow but also a significant cultural wound, underscoring the fragile state of heritage protection in Brazil.
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