French authorities have recovered two Renoir paintings stolen from a museum last month and arrested six suspects after a national search.
Two paintings by French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir stolen from a museum in southern France last month have been recovered, with six people arrested, local authorities said on Friday.
The paintings, Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and Young Woman at the Well, were taken from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer in a theft that lasted less than three minutes.
Bryan Masson, the town’s mayor, announced the recovery in a statement praising investigators for tracking down the artworks and suspects. He did not provide details of how they were found.
The regional prosecutor’s office and police had not immediately responded to requests for comment. Masson announced a news conference for later on Friday.
The thieves reportedly cut through a fence and entered the museum through a window before targeting its most valuable works.
They initially stole four Renoir paintings but abandoned two as they fled, according to authorities. Investigators subsequently launched a nationwide search for those responsible.
The theft renewed concerns about security at France’s cultural institutions. It also brought back memories of the high-profile theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris last year.
The incident has renewed calls for stronger security and better funding for cultural sites across France, including smaller museums.