Police have recovered a valuable oil painting by Belgian artist Rene Magritte that was reported stolen last year.
The missing work, 1927’s Les Reflets du Temps, depicts a surrealist beach scene and is valued at #350,000.
Scotland Yard’s art and antiques unit was contacted yesterday by a man who had found the picture.
The painting’s owner reported it missing to police in August last year from where it was being stored in south London.
Police are holding on to the work while they investigate the circumstances of its return, but it will eventually be given back to its owner.
The Magritte picture was identified after being included in the Metropolitan Police’s London stolen art database, which has details of over 58,000 missing artworks and antiques.
Detective Sergeant Vernon Rapley, head of the art and antiques unit, said: "For anyone considering buying art, antiquities or cultural property the database is an invaluable resource to help buyers check that they aren’t being sold stolen items.
"I am really pleased that the database has enabled this Magritte to be found so that the victim can have it returned to them."
