PARIS – Three works of art were stolen early Tuesday from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer in southeastern France's Alpes-Maritimes department, the French daily Le Monde reported.

Two thieves were spotted by the town's video surveillance cameras and fled, Cagnes-sur-Mer Mayor Bryan Masson was quoted as saying. The thieves took four works of art from the museum but dropped one as they fled, the mayor said.

Masson said his office estimated the value of the stolen artworks at 9 million euros ($10.45 million), adding that the perpetrators were "currently being actively sought."

The French judicial police have taken over the investigation.

Created in 1960, the museum is housed in the final home and estate of the famous French impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

The museum holds a collection including about a dozen original paintings by Renoir, as well as his furniture, personal belongings, photographs and archives.