In Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera, thieves broke into the Renoir Museum and stole four valuable paintings but abandoned two in the gardens after police responded to alarms early Tuesday. The most prized works of the renowned impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir have commanded high prices at auctions.
Mayor Bryan Masson expressed dismay, stating that the theft from the Renoir Museum is an attack on the history and heritage of Cagnes-sur-Mer. The stolen paintings, “Madame Colonna Romano” and “Young Woman at the Well,” are part of Paris’s prestigious Musée d’Orsay collection and were on loan to the museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
The perpetrators also took “Madame Pichon” and “Coco Reading” but dropped them as they fled from the authorities. An investigation into the organized theft has been initiated by the Marseille prosecutor’s office.
The Renoir Museum, established in 1960 at the artist’s former residence where he passed away in 1919, showcases a collection of 13 paintings, along with sculptures, furniture, and photographs.
Recent art thefts in Europe, including the Louvre Museum heist in 2025, have been characterized by increased violence and the recruitment of opportunistic individuals through social media, according to Europol. The Louvre robbery involved threats to guards and visitors, resulting in the theft of jewels worth millions of euros.
The French government has faced criticism for security lapses in museums, with a parliamentary report highlighting deficiencies in resources and preparedness for safeguarding valuable artworks. Calls for improved security measures in museums across France have been amplified following this incident.
A survey by the French Culture Ministry in 2024 revealed that a significant number of institutions lacked emergency plans and adequate video surveillance systems. Mayor Masson, a member of the National Rally party, emphasized the need for enhanced protection of museums to prevent further art crimes.
