Two stolen paintings, Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and Young Woman at the Well, have been recovered and are now displayed at the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Conservation and Restoration of Heritage in Marseille, France. These artworks were taken from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer during a heist on September 8, 2026.
DNA evidence found on a protective cover of the stolen artwork aided investigators in recovering the pieces and revealed potential plans for another art theft. Four individuals face preliminary charges related to the theft, including organized theft and criminal association, as stated by Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone.
Details of the Theft
During the theft, the perpetrators damaged the paintings to varying degrees. Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano suffered a tear, while Young Woman at the Well had minor frame damage. Together, these Renoirs are valued at 4.2 million euros ($4.7 million).
“As they fled, they were unable to take all four paintings and abandoned two of them, which were later found in a protective sleeve,” Bessone mentioned.
The thieves accessed the museum by cutting through a fence with an electric saw, entered via the ground floor, and detached clips securing the painting frames. The swift arrival of police, only four minutes after an alarm sounded, led to the culprits abandoning two of the pieces.
Investigation and Arrests
Tracking the DNA from the abandoned cover led authorities to a 29-year-old suspect involved in a drug trafficking investigation. His vehicle tracking data connected him to the theft. Accompanying him was a 41-year-old suspect; both were seen visiting the home of a third suspect shortly after the incident.
According to Bessone, police surveillance noted the young suspect’s visit to Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s Maeght Foundation, home to a notable art collection. A fourth suspect, known from past art theft and forgery cases, was also linked to the investigation.
The third suspect confessed to hiding the stolen paintings behind a wall in his home. Authorities discovered the Renoirs in this concealed space. The fourth suspect acknowledged viewing photographs of the pieces but claimed no recognition.
Both were charged with the concealment of stolen paintings, while two other individuals arrested were released without charges.
Museum Security Concerns
The Renoir Museum, located in the last residence of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the celebrated Impressionist artist, is an iconic site in Cagnes-sur-Mer. This coastal town, near Cannes and Nice, is a popular destination for art enthusiasts.
The theft has sparked renewed concerns over museum security, recalling the notable crown jewels theft from the Louvre Museum in Paris the previous year. Christian Sainte, national director of judicial police, emphasized the ongoing threat French cultural sites face from organized crime groups.
Sainte highlighted the recurring pattern of targeted thefts at cultural institutions, private estates, and art galleries across France, with 23 theft cases recorded in 2025 and about 10 so far in the current year.