Intruders broke into a Paris museum at the weekend and punched a hole in a prized Impressionist painting by Claude Monet.
Five people forced their way into the Musee d'Orsay yesterday morning and attacked Le Pont d'Argenteuil, tearing a ten-centimetre (four-inch) hole in the canvas.
A 10-centimetre tear is seen in Le Pont d'Argenteuil by Impressionist painter Claude Monet
A security camera showed the intruders breaking into a back door of the museum. An alarm was triggered and guards soon arrived, but the gang of five managed to flee after smashing the Impressionist masterpiece.
The attack happened during Paris's so-called "Nuit Blanche" - an all-night arts festival that was rowdy this year as it coincided with France's unexpected victory against the All Blacks in the rugby World Cup.
Officials said they believed the vandals had been drunk.
"It was a pure act of vandalism," Culture Minister Christine Albanel told France Inter radio, adding that France should improve museum security and come down heavily on offenders.
She added that Le Pont d'Argenteuil, which was painted in 1874, would be successfully restored.