Picasso stolen from museum

THIEVES broke into the Sao Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil yesterday morning and stole paintings by Pablo Picasso and Candido Portinari, police said.

During the robbery, thieves made off with Picasso’s Portrait of Suzanne Bloch, and O Lavrador de Cafe, by Portinari, an important Brazilian artist, said museum press spokesman Eduardo Cosomano.

Local media reports estimated their value at about $100 million (€70m), but Mr Cosomano said it is difficult to estimate the loss because the paintings had not gone to auction.