Burglars Raid Renoir Museum in Southern France, Stealing €9 Million in Art

Two intruders broke into the museum dedicated to French Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir in southern France on Tuesday, making off with four works of art. One of the stolen pieces was dropped during their flight, according to the town’s mayor.

“This morning, two individuals broke into the Renoir Museum and stole four artworks,” said Bryan Masson, the mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer.

“Spotted via the town’s video surveillance cameras, the two suspects fled, abandoning one of the stolen paintings as they ran,” he said, noting that his office estimated the value of the stolen works at 9 million euros ($10 million).

The museum, which opened in 1960, is situated in the painter’s final residence before his death in 1919.

Its collection features objects and furniture that belonged to Renoir, including his easel and wheelchair, alongside portraits, landscapes, and nudes painted by the artist.

The mayor noted that authorities responded in just five minutes.

“The museum alarm triggered at 5:48 a.m. By 5:53 a.m., just five minutes later, our municipal police were on the scene,” he stated.

This theft occurs less than a year after eight items valued at approximately $100 million were stolen during a daylight robbery at the Louvre in Paris.

While the four suspects in the Louvre robbery have been arrested, the stolen items remain missing despite extensive searches by French investigators across the Paris region and cooperation with police in Belgium, Italy, and beyond.

(France 24 with AFP)

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