The mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer says two of four Renoir paintings stolen from the Musée Renoir were abandoned in the museum garden as the thieves fled. Authorities initially believed only one painting had been left behind. The stolen works are reported to include Portrait of Madame Pichon (1895), Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910), Coco Lisant (1905) and Jeune fille au puits (1886), with an estimated combined value of €9 million. The alarm sounded at 05:48 local time and police arrived about five minutes later; the suspects remain at large.
Two Renoirs Dumped In Garden As Thieves Fled, Mayor Says
Thieves who stole four Renoir paintings abandoned two in garden as they fled, says mayor
The mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer says two of the four Renoir paintings stolen from the Musée Renoir were abandoned in the museum's garden as the thieves fled the scene.
Authorities initially believed only one work had been left behind. It remains unclear which two of the reported four paintings were discarded.
Stolen Works
French reports list the four paintings taken as:
- Portrait of Madame Pichon (1895)
- Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910)
- Coco Lisant (1905)
- Jeune fille au puits (1886)
Timeline
The museum's alarm triggered at 05:48 local time (04:48 BST). Police arrived around five minutes later, but the suspects had already fled and have not been arrested.
Value and Context
The mayor's office estimated the combined value of the stolen paintings at about €9 million (£7.7m; $10.5m). The theft at the Musée Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera follows a high-profile multi-million-euro heist at the Louvre in Paris last year, raising concerns about security at smaller museums.
Note: Officials have not yet confirmed which two works were abandoned in the garden or provided further details about the suspects. Investigations are ongoing.
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