On Thursday afternoon, November 21, four thieves carried out a daring robbery at the Hiéron Museum in Paray-le-Monial, a small town in eastern France. They stole priceless figurines from Via Vitae, a gold and ivory masterpiece by renowned artist Joseph Chaumet that depicts the life of Jesus.
The stolen artifacts, part of a collection worth over seven million dollars, were taken during an armed raid on the museum, which is known for its sacred art. Local officials confirmed the heist, calling it a significant cultural loss.
According to the town’s mayor, Jean-Marc Nesme, the thieves arrived at the museum around 4 p.m. local time on motorbikes. Three of them, wearing helmets, entered the building, which was open to visitors at the time. A fourth suspect stayed outside to act as a lookout. Authorities are investigating the incident and searching for the culprits.
This is the 10 ft tall work ‘Via Vitae’ work by Parisian goldsmith Joseph Chaumet stolen by armed robbers from a museum in France yesterday! pic.twitter.com/mAqqo10mDf
— James Bond (@JB326278) November 22, 2024
The robbers fired shots inside the museum but caused no injuries before heading straight for its prized exhibit, Via Vitae (1904).
This masterpiece, created by Parisian goldsmith Joseph Chaumet, illustrates the life of Jesus and is classified as a national treasure by the Ministry of Culture. Its value is estimated mare than 7.5 million dollars, according to the town’s mayor.
The thieves targeted the gold and ivory figurines, along with emerald decorations, that adorned the nearly three-meter-high artwork. Using a chainsaw, they cut through the armored glass protecting the piece and even removed part of its marble base.
The robbers fled the scene on motorbikes, scattering nails on the road to disable two police vehicles in pursuit. Authorities believe this tactic shows the robbery was carefully planned.
At the time of the heist, about 20 visitors and museum staff were on the ground floor. While no one was harmed, the mayor described the staff as “traumatized” by the event. Some managed to escape and sought refuge in a nearby house.
The prosecutor’s office in Mâcon has launched an investigation into the armed robbery, which police suspect was carried out by an organized gang.
“It is a great loss for Paray-le-Monial and for the national heritage,” said Mayor Jean-Marc Nesme, expressing sorrow over the destruction of the treasured artifact. He described the act as a “ransacking” of a priceless cultural piece.
France’s Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, strongly condemned the robbery, calling it an attack on the nation’s heritage. “I condemn in the strongest terms these unacceptable acts which harm our heritage . . . My full support to the museum teams and to the community,” she wrote on the platform X.
The Hiéron Museum, one of France’s oldest sacred art institutions, has faced similar incidents in the past. In 2017, two gold crowns created by goldsmith Paul Brunet were stolen in a burglary. An attempted break-in also occurred in September 2022. These repeated attacks raise serious concerns about the protection of cultural treasures.
