Two paintings by Auguste Renoir stolen a month ago from a museum in the south of France have been recovered, according to an announcement from the local town hall. The pieces were taken on September 8 when intruders cut through a perimeter fence and smashed a window at the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, the location where the renowned French impressionist spent his final years.
Local officials confirmed that six suspects have been arrested in connection with the museum heist. Mayor Bryan Masson expressed deep relief and joy over the retrieval of the artworks, emphasizing that they represent a vital piece of the city's history, cultural heritage, and the lasting legacy left behind by Renoir.
The stolen pieces included the 1910 work Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and the 1886 painting Jeune fille au puits. During the robbery, the culprits used an electric saw to sever the frame mountings inside the building, initially grabbing four canvases before dropping two of them in the museum gardens while making their escape.
The Renoir Museum, which opened in 1960, preserves 12 of the artist's original works alongside personal items such as his wheelchair, easel, letters, and photographs. The incident marks another high-profile art theft in Europe, following similar recent incidents in Italy and a major jewel robbery at the Louvre in Paris.