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Masterpieces Nabbed in French Art Heist

A woman visiting Nice's Museum of Fine Arts on Monday reads the title cards of masterpieces that were stolen on Sunday. (By Lionel Cironneau -- Associated Press)

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The men ran out of the ornate, ocher-colored 19th-century villa that houses the museum; two hopped on a motorcycle and the three others leapt into a waiting car and sped away, authorities said.

"We don't have security devices for each painting," Grimaud said. "It's very easy to remove a painting from its hook. The fact that there were few visitors and few guards made it much easier for them."

Grimaud, who said she was questioned by police for 2 1/2 hours Monday morning, said the museum alarm is turned on only when the museum is closed.

The Monet and Sisley works were on loan to the Nice museum from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.

Authorities said the oil paintings would be impossible to sell on the open art market.

Culture Minister Christine Albanel expressed "indignation" and "sadness" at the theft of the artworks. In a statement released Monday, she praised the museum staff for their cool response, which she said made it possible to avoid injury to the visitors in the museum galleries. She urged the thieves to return the paintings undamaged.

Researcher Corinne Gavard contributed to this report.

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