In Italy, three paintings by Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse stolen from a museum near Parma

Three paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse were stolen in March from a museum near Parma, in northern Italy, the carabinieri said on Sunday March 29.

Four masked people entered the villa of the Magnani-Rocca Foundation, in the town of Traversetolo, and took these paintings away during the night of Sunday to Monday March 23, a spokesperson for the carabinieri told Agence France-Presse, confirming information from public television RAI.

The thieves forced the main door and stole three paintings, according to the carabinieri. They then fled through the museum grounds.

According to the Italian press, the thieves stole Piscesa late painting (1917) by Auguste Renoir, the Still life with cherries (1885-1887) by Paul Cézanne and theOdalisque on the terrace (1922) by Henri Matisse.

The carabinieri are leading the investigation and using video surveillance images from the museum as well as neighboring homes and businesses, the spokesperson said.

The Magnani-Rocca Foundation houses the collection of art historian Luigi Magnani (1906-1984), which also includes works by Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, Monet and the Italian artist Giorgio Morandi. The museum could not be reached Sunday.