Two Stolen Renoir Paintings Recovered in France

Two Pierre-Auguste Renoir paintings stolen from the artist’s former home in southern France have been recovered, according to officials in Cagnes-sur-Mer. Six suspects have also been arrested in connection with the September raid on the Renoir Museum.

The recovered works are Jeune fille au puits, painted in 1886, and the 1910 Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano. Both disappeared on September 8 after intruders entered the museum grounds and forced their way into the building.

The thieves targeted four works

Investigators said the group cut through a perimeter fence, smashed a window and used an electric saw to free paintings from their mounts. Four works were initially removed, but two were dropped in the museum garden as the thieves fled. The other two remained missing for a month.

Local officials announced the recovery on October 9. Mayor Bryan Masson described the result as a relief for the city, where Renoir spent the final years of his life. Authorities did not immediately provide a detailed public account of where the paintings were located or whether they sustained damage.

The arrests and recovery close the most urgent part of the case, but the investigation is not necessarily over. Police must still establish individual roles in the break-in and determine how the works moved after leaving the museum.

The museum preserves Renoir’s final home

The Renoir Museum occupies the Domaine des Collettes, the painter’s estate near Nice. Its collection includes 12 of his works alongside personal objects, photographs and letters. Visitors can also see items connected to his studio and daily life.

That setting made the theft particularly significant for Cagnes-sur-Mer. The paintings were not only valuable objects; they were part of a site built around Renoir’s last residence and his connection to the region.

The case also adds to recent concern about museum security in Europe after several fast, targeted art thefts. In this instance, the return of both missing works avoided a prolonged search and restored two pieces directly tied to the institution’s central story.