Renoir's length of painting was stolen in a very simple way

vienna - The police in Vienna hunt three suspects who stole a painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir from an Austrian auction house. The canvas would be auctioned on Wednesday but was strangely stolen by strangers.

It concerns 'Golfe, mer, falaises vertes' (Gulf, sea, green coast), a lesser-known work by the French artist. The value of oil painting is estimated at 120,000 to 160,000 euros. The artwork was stolen Monday night when it was exhibited in the auction house Dorotheum. The thieves removed the Renoir from the wall and walked away with it. According to Austrian media, a so-called 'silent' alarm would have gone off, but the thieves could leave the building undisturbed. The men carried large shopping bags with them.