Four Artworks Stolen from Renoir Museum in Southern France, One Abandoned During Escape

Two people broke into the Auguste Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, southeastern France, early Tuesday and stole four artworks. They abandoned one of the works during their escape, according to the town’s mayor, Bryan Masson.

The museum alarm went off at 5:48 a.m. local time. Municipal police arrived five minutes later, but the suspects had already fled. Surveillance cameras captured them, and both municipal and national police remained mobilized as the search continued.

“Attacking the Renoir Museum means attacking part of Cagnes-sur-Mer’s history and heritage,” Masson wrote on social media, calling the theft “particularly serious.” He also argued for a security plan to protect the city’s museums and artworks.

The museum opened in 1960 at Les Collettes, the last home of painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It houses about a dozen original paintings, around 40 sculptures, furniture, personal belongings, photographs and archives.

The police Subdirectorate for Combating Organized and Specialized Crime has taken charge of the investigation. The official value of the stolen works has not yet been determined, although municipal sources put it at about 9 million euros.

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Attacking the Renoir Museum means attacking part of Cagnes-sur-Mer’s history and heritage.