Eight Henri Matisse illustrations stolen from São Paulo's Mário de Andrade Library last December have been recovered by Brazilian police at a home in São Bernardo do Campo, with a 44-year-old suspect arrested at the scene.
The works, valued around $200,000, were taken during a heist in which two thieves overpowered a security guard and an elderly couple before walking out the library's main entrance and heading to a nearby metro station. Police say the man arrested Thursday, João Paulo Linhares de Araujo, was storing the art on behalf of others allegedly involved, while a 53-year-old described as a prolific art thief is suspected of masterminding the operation and has been in custody since April on another case.
Five engravings by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari, stolen in the same heist, remain missing. The local culture department says the recovered Matisse pieces have been returned to the library, which has since had its security improved.
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