Historic Museum Robbed In Latest Art Heist

The Renoir Museum’s alarms went off at 5:48 a.m., but by the time police arrived 5 minutes later, it was already too late — two paintings had been stolen. 

The thieves broke into the museum on Tuesday, located in the French city of Cagnes-sur-Mer, by cutting through a fence and entering through the main floor, according to the Associated Press. The thieves then cut the bolts holding the four paintings in place. The thieves managed to get away with two of the four paintings. Two paintings were left behind in the garden during their escape. 

Mayor Bryan Masson later revealed that the two stolen artworks are “Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano” and “Young Woman at the Well.” The two abandoned paintings — “Coco Lisant” and “Portrait of Madame Pichon”— were recovered.

Masson called the theft “a very serious incident,” adding that “attacking the Renoir museum is attacking a part of the history and heritage of Cagnes-sur-Mer.”

The Renoir Museum “occupies the last home of the painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.” The museum opened to the public in 1960 and holds a collection of about 40 sculptures and thirteen original paintings.

Tuesday’s heist is the latest in a string of high-profile art thefts across Europe, following a Louvre heist in 2025 when thieves made off with over $100 million in jewels. 

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand, who has recovered more than 150 stolen paintings and artifacts over his career, told the BBC that “no one will want to buy” the paintings as everyone will know they were stolen. Brand added, “It is likely, then, that the thieves have no idea what to do with them. Ultimately, the paintings will probably be recovered.” 

Art heists are becoming increasingly more common across Europe. The Magnani-Rocca Foundation was robbed earlier this year in March. Three paintings were stolen, including “Les Poissons” by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. 

Legitimate buyers will likely steer clear of the stolen artwork, but thieves can still cash in through the black market, using the paintings as collateral or as bargaining chips with law enforcement.