An art recovery specialist has recovered a painting by French artist Matisse that was stolen from a Stockholm museum 25 years ago.
Matisse's "Le Jardin", valued at about €700,000, was stolen in May 1987, when a thief smashed his way into the museum with a sledgehammer during the night.
It was recovered by Christopher Marinello, a British specialist at the Art Loss Register in London.
The theft was reported to both Interpol and the Art Loss Register (ALR), the world's largest international private database of stolen, missing and looted artwork.
The painting was recovered after an art dealer in Britain checked with the ALR's register before selling the Matisse.
"It was stolen so long ago that really we had almost given up hope," said Kristin Ek, spokeswoman for the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
"We are happy the painting seems to be okay and in good condition," Ms Ek said. "It was a good start to the New Year."
Mr Marinello would not give details of how he got hold of the Matisse.
"No arms were broken and no payments were made," he said, adding the painting would be returned to the museum through Sweden's ministry of culture.
The Moderna Museet is still missing a painting by Georges Braque, after a theft in 1993.
Stolen art is a lucrative industry and the current global economic downturn has led to a surge in crimes, according to Mr Marinello.
Last year, for example, thieves made off with paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Monet and other prominent modern artists from Rotterdam's Kunsthal museum worth tens of millions of dollars.
If thieves cannot collect a ransom from insurers or owners, the art is sold on the black market, often for a fraction of its real worth, or even exchanged for drugs or guns.
Mr Marinello said only 5-10% of stolen art is ever recovered.
