Renoir Paintings Heist: Four Masterpieces Stolen from Côte d'Azur Museum
The Musée Renoir in Cagnes‑sur‑Mer was rattled when four works by Pierre‑Auguste Renoir disappeared on Tuesday morning. Two of the paintings were left behind in the museum’s garden and recovered, while the other two, a portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and a portrait of a young woman at a well, remain on the missing‑report list.
According to Mayor Bryan Masson, armed thieves entered the museum grounds by cutting through the perimeter fence at 05:48 BST. The alarm system activated immediately and police arrived within five minutes, Masson said.
Investigators reported that the suspects were well‑equipped, wearing helmets, gloves and combat attire, and possessed an electric knife and hacksaw. Two zip‑up bags found on the scene were believed to belong to the robbers.
Each stolen canvas was valued at about €9 million (US$10.4 million). The missing pieces are:
- Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910)
- Jeune fille au puits (1886)
And the recovered works are:
- Portrait of Madame Pichon (1895)
- Coco Lisant (1905)
The museum, which houses 12 Renoir works in a former home of the artist, opened in 1960. Its collection includes personal artefacts such as the painter’s easel, wheelchair, photographs and letters.
This is not the first high‑profile theft on European art. Last month, four Renaissance paintings were stolen in Sicily, and a year ago, the Louvre jewel‑crown was taken in France.
Mayor Masson warns that the incident highlights a new wave of organised crime threatening cultural heritage and urges the French government to increase funding for local museums.
