Four paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Monet and Dali and a book were robbed Friday from Rio de Janeiro's Chacara do Ceu museum, the museum's director said.

The Four paintings -- Pablo Picasso's "The Dance," Claude Monet's "Marine," Henri Matisse's "Garden of Luxembourg," Salvador Dali's "Two Balconies" and Picasso's book "Toros" were looted by gunmen, museum director Vera de Alencar told reporters.

At least four men, equipped with firearms and a hand grenade, broke into the museum and looted the precious art pieces. They also intimidated several tourists inside the building, she said.

The gunmen forced museum staff to disconnect the alarm and camera system before the robbery, then disappeared into crowds of Carnival goers outside.

There was no immediate estimate of the value of the looted paintings.

Source: Xinhua