One Suspect Arrested in São Paulo Library Heist of Matisse and Portinari Works

Overview

• Two armed men stole 13 gravures on Dec. 7 from the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade exhibition, taking eight plates from Matisse’s Jazz and five Portinari illustrations from Menino de Engenho, with no injuries reported.
• Police arrested Felipe dos Santos Fernandes Quadra, 31, in Mooca; a second identified suspect remains at large as investigations continue.
• The getaway van was seized and sent for forensic examination after municipal Smart Sampa cameras traced the suspects’ movements.
• Surveillance video shows the pair loading works into a van and briefly leaving some plates at a street corner before departing.
• Authorities activated Interpol via the Federal Police and notified Ibram, Iphan and ABACT to block export; the works are insured, values remain confidential, and curators emphasize recovering the originals.