Two stolen Renoir paintings found hidden behind wall in France

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 19:43 · Archive

Two paintings by Renoir stolen from a French museum in September have been discovered hidden behind a cinder block wall following arrests.

Two paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir stolen from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera in September have been recovered from a private home in Clermont-l'Herault. The paintings, 'Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano' and 'Young Woman at the Well', were found hidden behind a solid cinder block wall during a search on Thursday. According to Al Jazeera, the works were valued at about 4.2 million euros (approximately $4.7 million).

On September 8, thieves used an electric saw to cut through a fence to enter the museum. An alarm sounded and police arrived four minutes later, which apparently caused the perpetrators to panic and abandon two other Renoir paintings in the museum gardens as they fled. Six suspects, including a woman, were arrested on Wednesday ahead of what prosecutors say was an imminent planned heist on another museum, the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. A 29-year-old man identified as the main suspect was charged after DNA evidence linked him to the theft.

Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone said the paintings were recovered through interrogation work that led the receiver of the stolen goods to admit possession. Both works sustained damage: the frame of 'Young Woman at the Well' was slightly damaged, while the canvas of 'Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano' had a tear. Bessone said the paintings were in 'relatively good condition' overall and will require restoration.

How it is being reported

• Stolen Renoir paintings found behind wall in France following arrestsRenoir art heist suspects were planning 'imminent' second robbery, prosecutors say.Al Jazeera · 12 Oct, 19:10
• Stolen Renoir paintings found hidden behind cinder block wallThieves broke into the museum and escaped with two works by Renoir, abandoning two others as they fled. The value of all four paintings was estimated at $10 million.CBS News · 12 Oct, 14:43

In this story: Pierre-Auguste Renoir · Renoir Museum · Cagnes-sur-Mer · Clermont-l'Herault · Fondation Maeght · Saint-Paul-de-Vence · Nicolas Bessone · France

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