Two paintings by the renowned French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir have been recovered a month after their theft from a museum in southern France. The news was confirmed by Bryan Masson, the mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer, on Friday.
The theft occurred in September when thieves broke into the museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer. They managed to escape with two of Renoir’s works, leaving two others behind as they fled. Mayor Masson emphasized the significance of these artworks, stating, These two paintings are not simply works of art. They are part of our city’s history.
He expressed immense relief at their recovery.
Police have not yet released an official statement regarding the recovery. A source involved in the investigation reported that five individuals have been arrested in connection with the theft. The robbers entered the museum grounds by cutting through a fence and then smashed a window to gain entry. They used an electric saw to remove the paintings from their frames.
The Renoir Museum, located a short drive from Nice, was the last home of the impressionist painter before his death in 1919 at the age of 78. This incident is the most recent in a series of high-profile art thefts in France, including the notorious daylight robbery of crown jewelry worth approximately $100 million from the Louvre last year.