Stolen Renoir paintings found hidden, and damaged, behind cinder block wall: "Completely undetectable"
CBS News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Two stolen Renoir paintings, "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano" and "Young Woman at the Well," were recovered hidden behind a cinder block wall in southern France, though both sustained slight damage.
- The paintings were found following the arrest of six suspects, with a 29-year-old man charged after DNA linked him to the theft from a museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
- The artworks, valued as part of a $10 million collection, will require restoration due to a tear in one canvas and damage to a frame.
- The recovery highlights ongoing issues with museum security in France amid a recent series of high-profile art and jewelry thefts, including a $100 million crown jewel heist at the Louvre.
- French Culture Minister Catherine Pegard commended law enforcement for their swift and effective work in retrieving the stolen paintings.
