Pablo Picasso's oil painting, "Portrait of Suzanne Bloch", is seen in this handout photograph released by the Sao Paulo Museum of Art on Dec. 20, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Two pieces of artwork by Pablo Picasso and Brazil's Candido Portinari were stolen Thursday from the Sao Paulo Art Museum (MASP) where they were on exhibition.

    "Portrait of Suzanne Bloch" by Picasso in 1904 and "O Lavrador de Cafe" ("The Coffee Farmer") by Portinari in 1939 were some of the most important pieces of the MASP's collection. Their value was not established since they had never been auctioned, but experts estimated the two paintings are worth at least 120 million U.S. dollars altogether.

    According to police, it took only three minutes for thieves to steal the oil-on-canvas paintings, which were exhibited in two different rooms at the museum. The crime took place from 5:09 a.m. to 5:12 a.m. local time, although three security guards were at the spot at that time. Security cameras recorded the theft.

    The museum also turned to the Foreign Ministry and Interpol for help.

    The MASP's Administrative and Financial Superintendent FernandoPinho said in a statement that no artwork had ever been stolen from the museum since it was founded 60 years ago.

    Pinho added criminals have been targeting Brazil's museums lately. In February, artwork by Picasso, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali and Claude Monet were taken from Chacara do Ceu Museum in Riode Janeiro.

    Joao Portinari, son of the Brazilian painter, told local press that he believed the criminals may get in touch with him for negotiation.

    However, the police said the thieves probably had already found a buyer for the paintings, adding that the burglars tried to steal the works in October but failed.

Brazilian painter Candido Portinari's oil painting "The Coffee Worker" is seen in this handout photograph released by the Sao Paulo Museum of Art on Dec. 20, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>