Renoir Heist Suspects Allegedly Plotted Second Burglary at Fondation Maeght
Authorities disclosed that a gang apprehended for the theft of two Renoir artworks from a museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer had intentions to rob the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. On 8 September, two thieves managed to steal four pieces, including Madame Colonna Romano (1910) and Jeune femme au puits (1886), although they abandoned two paintings during their getaway. On 7 October, law enforcement arrested five men and one woman. One of the suspects concealed the stolen artworks behind a wall in his residence located in Clermont-L'Hérault. The paintings, estimated to be worth €4m, are reported to be in 'rather good condition.' The primary suspect, aged 29, was linked to the crime through DNA found on protective covering. Three of the suspects have prior convictions for drug offenses and theft.
Key facts
- Two Renoir paintings were stolen from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on 8 September.
- The stolen works were Madame Colonna Romano (1910) and Jeune femme au puits (1886).
- Two other paintings were abandoned in the museum garden during the thieves' escape.
- Five men and one woman were arrested on 7 October in connection with the theft.
- The missing paintings were found hidden behind a wall in a house in Clermont-L'Hérault near Marseille.
- The paintings, on loan from the Musée d'Orsay, are valued at €4m and are in 'rather good condition'.
- The main suspect, aged 29, was identified by DNA on protective covering left at the scene.
- Police observed the main suspect visiting the Fondation Maeght, allegedly to plan another robbery.
Entities
Artists
- Pierre-Auguste Renoir
- Gabrielle Colonna-Romano
- Henri Matisse
- Alberto Giacometti
- Joan Miró
- Alexander Calder
- Marc Chagall
- Georges Braque
- Auguste Renoir
- Bryan Masson
- Jean-Denis Flori
- Jadwiga Zak
Institutions
- Renoir Museum
- Fondation Maeght
- Musée d'Orsay
- The Art Newspaper
- Musée Renoir
- Service interdépartemental de la police judiciaire des Alpes-Maritimes
- Louvre
- Beaux Arts
- police judiciaire de Nice
- Office central de lutte contre le trafic des biens culturels
- OCBC
- AFP
- TF1
- LeJournaldesArts.fr
- musée Renoir
- mairie de Cagnes-sur-Mer
- parquet de Marseille
- parquet de Grasse
- DCOS
- musée d'Orsay
- Mondex
- Connaissance des Arts
- Le Monde
Locations
- Cagnes-sur-Mer
- France
- Nice
- Clermont-L'Hérault
- Marseille
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence
- French Riviera
- Alpes-Maritimes
- Paris
- Clermont-l'Hérault
- Hérault
- Var
- Corsica
- Doubs
- domaine des Collettes
- Grasse
- Auschwitz
- Pologne
- Côte d’Azur