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Munch`s Works Back on Display

Two holes in `Madonna` and a damaged corner on `The Scream` were all that was detected following the retrieval of the works stolen from the Munch Museum. The theft took place in August 2004 and since then police have made a number of arrests. The pictures will be back on display to the public in Oslo Wednesday, in advance of scheduled restoration work on the recovered paintings.

The two late-19th century works were painted by Edvard Munch, who lived from 1863 to 1944, and is considered to be one of Europe`s most important expressionist artists. His retrieved paintings indeed suffered minor damages but officials said they wanted to show them to the public because of the intense local and international interest in the case. Restoration of the two works could take up to one year. They will be displayed lying flat under glass and without their frames because experts have said the fragile works are not in a condition to be hung on a wall.

The bold robbery, which took place in broad daylight, has resulted in major security revisions at the Oslo museum. Valuable works are now displayed behind glass and visitors entering the display area must pass through a metal detector.