Eight engravings by renowned French artist Henri Matisse have been stolen from a library in Brazil, leaving art enthusiasts and officials alike in shock.

The thieves didn’t stop there, also making off with at least five pieces by esteemed Brazilian painter Candido Portinari, further deepening the loss to the art community.

According to Brazilian authorities, the culprits made their escape through the library’s main entrance, swiftly heading toward a nearby train station in their bid to evade capture.

Local media have disseminated video footage seemingly capturing the suspects sprinting down a street with a sack full of the stolen art, adding a dramatic layer to the unfolding saga.

Authorities made a breakthrough on Monday when they arrested one of the suspects just hours after discovering the vehicle used in the getaway.

The Sao Paulo government announced on X that the arrest was made possible through the “analysis of security cameras that recorded the criminal act,” underscoring the vital role of surveillance technology in cracking the case.

The city of more than 11 million people has an extensive security camera system.

Henri Matisse, an exponent of Modernist style painting, is regarded as one of the most influential artists of the late 19th and 20th centuries.

Art experts described the value of the stolen works as “incalculable”. 

Portinari, known for painting rural life, is a major Brazilian Modernist artist.

The theft comes less than eight weeks after the brazen heist at the Louvre museum in Paris, where thieves stole priceless jewels.