Thieves on Tuesday broke into the Renoir Museum on the French Riviera and stole several paintings worth an estimated €9 million.
Cagnes-sur-Mer mayor Bryan Masson, in a statement, said the thieves broke into the museum early in the morning and carted away four artworks.
“Attacking the Renoir museum is attacking a part of the history and heritage of Cagnes-sur-Mer. These actions are particularly serious,” Mr Masson stated.
The French newspaper, Nice-Matin, reported that the stolen paintings were Portrait of Madame Pichon (1895), Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910); Coco Lisant (1905); and Jeune fille au puits (1886) valued at $10.5 million.
Police have commenced search for the suspects.
The Renoir Museum is located at the hilltop estate where French Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir spent the final years of his life before his death in 1919.
The museum’s collection includes 13 Renoir paintings, several sculptures, furniture and photographs.
The latest theft came amid a series of museum robberies in France in recent times.
Last year, thieves stole crown jewels from the Louvre in Paris worth $102 million.
Thieves Invade France’s Renoir Museum, Steal Multimillion-Dollar Artworks
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