Renoir paintings are worth a fortune, but not when they're stolen
This photo provided by City of Cagnes-sur-Mer, southern France, shows 'Jeune femme au puits', a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir stolen at the Renoir museum, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. (City of Cagnes-sur-Mer via AP)
Two Renoir paintings stolen from a small French museum have yet to be recovered but if the thieves are hoping to cash in on the artwork, they would be hard-pressed to find a buyer.
Selling well-known, stolen art is impossible to do at an auction house or through other public channels without raising eyebrows. Even under the table, the value plummets. And unlike other eye-catching artifacts such as jewels, paintings can't be chopped up and sold for parts without losing their entire worth.
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