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Brazilian police have recovered eight works by French artist Henri Matisse, valued at a combined $200,000, nearly a year after they were stolen from a public library in Sao Paulo.
The works were found during a police operation at a house in Sao Bernardo do Campo, a municipality near Sao Paulo, according to Brazilian media reports.
Police also detained 44-year-old Joao Paulo Linhares de Araujo during the raid as investigators continue to look into the theft from the Biblioteca Mario de Andrade.
Authorities suspect that 53-year-old Laessio Rodrigues de Oliveira planned the robbery. Brazilian media have described Oliveira as a prolific art thief.
Oliveira has already been in prison since April in connection with a separate case.
Although the eight Matisse works have now been recovered, five works by Brazilian painter Candido Portinari that were taken during the same robbery remain missing.
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The robbery took place on Dec. 7, when two thieves entered the Biblioteca Mario de Andrade in São Paulo.
They overpowered security personnel and two visitors before gathering up the artworks and walking out through the library's main entrance.
Three other people had previously been detained as part of the investigation.
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