Two thieves broke into a museum dedicated to French impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir in southern France on Tuesday, stealing four works of art. The mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer said the suspects entered the museum early Tuesday morning and took four pieces before abandoning two as they fled. Bryan Masson, the far-right mayor of the town, said the thieves were seen on video surveillance cameras and that their actions caused damage to the museum. According to The Associated Press, the thieves cut through a garden fence and entered through a ground-floor window.
He added that the stolen items were valued at about nine million euros, or roughly ten million dollars, according to France 24. The Renoir Museum is located in the city of Cagnes-sur-Mer and was opened in 1960 inside the last home of the artist before his death in 1919. Its collection includes personal items and furniture that belonged to Renoir, such as his easel and wheelchair, along with many paintings.
The museum alarm went off at 5:48 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Just five minutes later, at 5:53 a.m., municipal police were present at the scene. Authorities in France are seeking the two individuals involved in the break-in, according to a report from CBS News.
The mayor said that attacking the Renoir Museum is an attack on the history and heritage of Cagnes-sur-Mer. He also emphasized the need for better protection of museums and artworks across France. This theft occurred less than a year after a major art heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
In that earlier incident, French crown jewels worth an estimated $102 million were stolen during a daylight robbery in October 2025. Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the Louvre theft, but the stolen items have not been recovered despite searches across France and cooperation with police in Belgium and Italy. The Renoir Museum has been a significant cultural landmark for over six decades.
It houses not only paintings but also personal belongings and tools used by Renoir during his lifetime. The incident has raised concerns about the security of cultural institutions in France. Police have not yet identified any motive behind the Renoir Museum break-in.
The mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer has called for a comprehensive plan to protect museums and artworks nationwide. The four paintings targeted were Portrait of Madame Pichon, Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano, Coco Reading, and Young Woman at the Well; the first and third were recovered, while the other two remain missing. The two paintings that remain missing were on loan from the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, Reuters reported. The museum's staff and local authorities are working together to investigate how the thieves gained access.
Security systems at the Renoir Museum were reportedly activated shortly after the suspects entered the building. The quick response by local police has been noted as a positive development in the case. Authorities are continuing to review surveillance footage and investigate possible leads.
The theft has drawn attention to the vulnerability of art collections in France. It is the latest in a series of high-profile art crimes that have occurred in recent years across Europe. The mayor said that protecting cultural heritage must be a priority for all levels of government.