Brazilian police name alleged mastermind behind Matisse theft
Authorities in Brazil have identified Laéssio Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva as the key suspect in a theft that took place at the Biblioteca Mario de Andrade in December 2025. During this audacious heist, thieves made off with eight prints by Matisse and five illustrations created by Candido Portinari. Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva has been incarcerated since April 20, 2026, after attempting to bribe a security personnel in Rio de Janeiro. He has a past conviction from 1998 involving the theft of rare magazines worth $750,000. While two accomplices have been detained, one of the thieves remains at large, and the stolen artworks are still missing.
Key facts
- Laéssio Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva named as mastermind behind theft of Matisse works from Biblioteca Mario de Andrade in São Paulo.
- Theft occurred in December 2025; eight Matisse prints from Jazz (1947) and five Portinari illustrations stolen.
- Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva arrested in prison since 20 April for attempting to bribe a guard at Rui Barbosa Institute.
- Convicted in 1998 for stealing rare magazines valued at US$750,000 from National Library Foundation.
- Linked to thefts from USP, National Museum, and Itamaraty Palace.
- Allegedly made contact with PCC organized crime gang while in prison.
- Intermediaries Carlos Leandro Ferreira da Silva and Regiane Rodrigues da Silva arrested.
- Perpetrators Felipe dos Santos Fernandes Quadra and Gabriel Pereira Rodrigues de Mello; Pereira Rodrigues de Mello at large, artworks unrecovered.
Entities
Artists
- Henri Matisse
- Candido Portinari
- José Lins do Rego
Institutions
- Biblioteca Mario de Andrade
- Rui Barbosa Institute
- National Library Foundation
- University of São Paulo (USP)
- National Museum
- Itamaraty Palace
- PCC
Locations
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro
- Brasília