Police Recover Two Stolen Renoir Paintings in Southern France

French authorities have recovered two paintings by impressionist master Pierre-Auguste Renoir that were stolen from a museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, southern France, in September. Investigators found the artworks hidden behind a solid cinder block wall inside a house in Clermont-l'Herault last Thursday, following the arrest of six suspects. Prosecutors said both paintings sustained damage and will need restoration.

The recovered works are Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano, painted in 1910, and Young Woman at the Well, dating to 1886. According to reports from CBS News and Yahoo, the paintings were valued at 4.2 million euros, or $4.7 million. The estimated value of all four paintings initially taken during the theft was $10 million, CBS News reported.

The theft occurred on September 8, when intruders cut through a fence and smashed a window at the Renoir Museum. According to the BBC, the thieves used an electric saw to cut through the paintings' frame mountings before escaping with four works. They abandoned two in the museum garden during their getaway.

Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone said investigators recovered the missing works after questioning suspects and obtaining information about the location of the stolen property.

"The paintings were hidden behind a solid cinder block wall. They were completely undetectable," Bessone said.

He explained that questioning led investigators to the person who had taken possession of the paintings. Authorities returned to the property after obtaining a confession, according to reports from CBS News and Yahoo.

Both paintings remained in relatively good condition, although examination revealed damage. Bessone said the frame of Young Woman at the Well had suffered slight damage, while the canvas of Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano had a tear across the dress. He confirmed that both works would require restoration.

A 29-year-old man considered the main suspect was formally charged over the weekend after DNA evidence linked him to the theft, according to CBS News. Yahoo reported that investigators recovered the DNA from a bag left behind during the escape. Four men aged between 29 and 51 were under formal investigation, and three had previous criminal convictions. Two remained in custody, Yahoo reported.

Authorities also said the arrests were accelerated after investigators learned that the main suspect had conducted reconnaissance at the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, which houses a major collection of modern art. Eric Antonetti, head of the Alpes-Maritimes judicial police, described the development as evidence of a possible repeat offense.

"We were very clearly looking at the repetition of a criminal scheme," Antonetti said.

France's national judicial police chief, Christian Sainte, said officers had examined the walls during an earlier search but failed to locate the concealed paintings. The artworks were discovered during a subsequent search after investigators obtained further information.

Culture Minister Catherine Pegard praised the police operation, while the culture ministry credited investigators with recovering the paintings quickly. Cagnes-sur-Mer Mayor Bryan Masson also welcomed the recovery, describing the works as part of the town's history and cultural heritage.

The case adds to a series of high-profile art thefts in France and elsewhere in Europe. In Paris, crown jewels stolen from the Louvre last year remain largely missing despite arrests in that case. French museums have also suffered thefts involving jewelry and valuable porcelain, prompting renewed scrutiny of security at cultural institutions.