Renoir theft 'shows museums should check security'

A Guernsey art gallery says smaller museums should have tighter security measures after paintings by 19th Century painter Renoir were stolen in France.

Two thieves broke into the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on Tuesday and walked out with four items worth more than 9m euros (£7.7m) each, before two were abandoned and recovered by authorities.

David Ummels, from Art for Guernsey, who was instrumental in bringing an exhibition of the impressionist's work to the island in 2023, also said attitudes towards art had changed.

He said: "It's sad people are seeing artwork for their price rather than for the value that they've managed to create, and the way they have inspired communities."

Pierre-Auguste Renoir visited Guernsey in 1883 and during his month-long visit is thought to have created 15 paintings.

Some of those works were displayed on the island in 2023 thanks to provisions by private collectors and galleries across the world.

Ummels said that, unlike bigger territories, Guernsey's security was "ideally positioned" to protect artwork.

But he added it had become very difficult to balance security with letting people enjoy the paintings.

"My philosophy when we have people visiting a show is always to keep security measures to a minimum, but you have to protect the artworks against a moment of craziness.

"But this [theft] shows perfectly that smaller museums are really struggling because they have treasures and legacy, but they have less budget than the big museums.

"So they have to live with like suboptimal security systems.

"And so there is probably a big rethinking that needs to be done in the big countries on how they manage the security of the smaller museums."

Ummels arrived on the island 11 years ago and said he "fell in love" with Guernsey's "incredible integrity", and viewed it as something worth preserving.

"It's important to pass on the heritage and legacy, but also to inspire the youth, and to give them bravery.

"We have community spirit, the kindness, and it is very fortunate that things like [the theft] tend not to happen in Guernsey."

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