Two Stolen Renoir Paintings Recovered Behind Cinder Block Wall in Southern France
French authorities recovered two Pierre-Auguste Renoir works hidden in a wall after a museum robbery, noting minor damage and ongoing restoration needs.
French prosecutors announced Friday that two Pierre-Auguste Renoir paintings stolen from the museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer have been recovered. The works – a portrait titled "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano" and a piece called "Young Woman at the Well" – were found behind a solid cinder-block wall in a home in Clermont-l'Herault during a police search.
"The paintings were hidden behind a solid cinder block wall. They were completely undetectable," Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone told reporters in Paris, adding that interrogation led investigators to the individual who had taken possession of the artworks.
The recovery follows the arrest of six suspects, including a woman, last Wednesday. A 29-year-old man identified as the primary suspect was charged after DNA evidence linked him to the theft.
"The two paintings are in relatively good condition, although they show signs of damage," Bessone said alongside Christian Sainte, head of France's national judicial police. The frame of "Young Woman at the Well" sustained slight damage, and the canvas of "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano" has a tear on the dress, both requiring restoration.
Culture Minister Catherine Pegard praised the effort of law-enforcement teams, stating that their commitment enabled the swift recovery of the works. The incident adds to a recent series of museum robberies in France, which have raised concerns about security at cultural institutions.