Brazilian law enforcement has reportedly identified the individual believed to be behind the audacious theft of eight works by Henri Matisse from the Biblioteca Mário de Andrade, one of São Paulo's premier libraries. This incident, which occurred in December 2025, sent shockwaves through the nation's cultural community and has remained a point of contention since its occurrence.
According to Art Review, authorities have named Laéssio Rodrigues de Oliveira Silva as the alleged orchestrator of the theft. Investigators assert that Silva coordinated the heist, leveraging a long history of involvement in the theft of rare books, manuscripts, and other significant cultural artifacts.
The brazen heist took place on the final day of an exhibition titled "From Book to Museum," curated in collaboration with the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art. Two armed individuals entered the library shortly after its opening, taking a security guard and an elderly couple hostage while they removed valuable artworks from display cases and fled toward a nearby metro station.
Among the stolen items were eight prints from Matisse's renowned Jazz series (1947), known for its vibrant, paper-cut compositions. Additionally, five illustrations by Brazilian modernist Cândido Portinari, created for a special edition of José Lins do Rego's novel Menino de Engenho, were taken. Following the robbery, police quickly identified two suspects, leading to one arrest. The investigation has since broadened, with authorities alleging that Silva operated through a network of intermediaries.
In addition to Silva, police have arrested Carlos Leandro Ferreira da Silva and law student Regiane Rodrigues da Silva, who allegedly acted as intermediaries between the mastermind and the actual perpetrators. While one suspected gunman remains at large, the stolen artworks have yet to be recovered.
Silva was identified while already in custody, having been imprisoned since April for allegedly attempting to bribe a security guard in connection with another planned theft. His criminal history reportedly spans decades, including a conviction in 1998 for stealing rare magazines from Brazil's National Library Foundation, valued at approximately $750,000. Authorities also link him to thefts from several prestigious institutions, including the University of São Paulo and the National Museum.
Notably, police discovered a voicemail on Silva's phone where he referred to himself as a specialist in rare books, claiming, "I distribute them all over the world." He further mentioned, "I'm getting into the art business now." As the investigation continues, the whereabouts of the stolen Matisse and Portinari works remain unknown.