Two Renoir paintings still missing after museum theft
SCMP · 7 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
French investigators are searching for two suspects after a pre-dawn break-in at the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer in southeastern France on Tuesday led to the theft of four paintings. Later updates from local media said two of the works were recovered inside the museum grounds, leaving two Renoir originals still unaccounted for. The targeted paintings were valued at about €9 million in total, and the museum has remained closed while police continue their investigation. The case has renewed attention on museum security in France after other high-value art thefts in the past year.
Key Points
- The theft happened at the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on Tuesday morning, when two intruders entered and took four works before fleeing.
- Mayor Bryan Masson said the alarm sounded at 5.48am and municipal police reached the scene at 5.53am, about five minutes later.
- Initial reports said one painting was abandoned during the escape, but later reports said two works were found in the museum garden or within the fenced grounds.
- The two missing paintings were identified as Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and Young Girl at the Well, while Portrait of Madame Pichon and Coco Lisant were recovered.
- Reports said the suspects may have cut fencing and entered during a guard shift change, with investigators reviewing surveillance footage and pursuing the pair.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case shows how even small, specialised museums with alarms and CCTV can still be vulnerable to fast, targeted thefts. Recent French and European cases cited in the reports suggest stolen masterpieces may remain missing for long periods, raising questions for museums, lenders and insurers over security planning and loan arrangements.