Thieves steal three paintings from Renoir Museum on French Riviera

Thieves broke into the Renoir Museum on the French Riviera in the early hours of Tuesday, stealing four paintings, according to Cagnes-sur-Mer Mayor Bryan Masson, who reported the incident on Facebook. The intruders entered the museum just before 6 a.m. and, while the mayor did not specify which pieces were taken, it is understood that three of the four stolen works were by the renowned impressionist painter.

The attack on the museum, which was established in 1960 within the former residence of Renoir himself, is not only a crime but a desecration of a significant piece of the town's heritage. Masson emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that such acts are particularly heinous. The museum houses 13 paintings by the master along with around 40 sculptures, furniture, and photographs.

However, the mayor did not provide further details about the specific artworks that were stolen. Renowned for their high value, Renoir's paintings have been sold for tens of millions of dollars in auction rooms across Europe. Unfortunately, art theft in the continent has been escalating in both the ferocity of the robberies and the formation of specialized criminal gangs.