Stolen Renoir paintings found behind wall in France
PARIS: Two paintings by impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir, stolen from a museum in southern France and later discovered hidden behind a wall, have sustained slight damage, prosecutors said on Monday.
Two Pierre-Auguste Renoir paintings stolen from a museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, southern France, have been found hidden behind a wall, prosecutors announced on Monday. The theft occurred in September, with the thieves escaping with two works by the impressionist master, leaving two others behind. The total value of the four paintings was estimated at nine million euros ($10 million).
The recovered paintings are a portrait titled "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano" and a depiction of a woman at a well called "Young Woman at the Well." Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone revealed that the paintings were discovered last Thursday during a search at a home in Clermont-l'Hérault. They were concealed behind a solid cinderblock wall, making them nearly undetectable.
The paintings showed signs of damage, with the frame of "Young Woman at the Well" slightly damaged and a tear in the canvas of "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano," located on the dress. Following the arrest of six individuals, including a woman, last Wednesday, the paintings were recovered, having been in possession of their intended recipient.
The main suspect, a 29-year-old man, was charged at the weekend based on DNA evidence linking him to the theft. Culture Minister Catherine Pegard commended the efficiency and determination of those responsible for recovering the works in record time.
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