Eye surgeon to help restore Edvard Munch works damaged in theft

Apr 11, 2007, 13:35 GMT

Oslo - An eye surgeon will be involved in efforts to restore two masterpieces by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch that were stolen during an armed robbery in 2004, a museum official said Wednesday during the final proceedings of the appeal trial.

The surgeon would remove tiny glass splinters from the paintings in order 'to prevent greater damage at a later stage,' Munch Musem Director Lise Mjos told the court, broadcaster NRK reported.

The paintings - The Scream and The Madonna - also suffered puncture holes and damage due to moisture since the protective glass was smashed in the August 2004 theft, Mjos said.

Details of how police recovered the two masterpieces from an Oslo warehouse in August 2006 remained sealed despite appeals from the defence.

The museum estimated restoration costs at 1.6 million kroner (264,000 dollars) and asked to be awarded damages of 1.3 million kroner (214,000 dollars) for lost ticket sales and other costs.

The appeal trial hearing opened February 20 against five men but a 10-member jury cleared two of them at the end of March and sentencing was pending against the remaining three.

In their closing arguments, prosecutors Wednesday called for jail terms of seven, ten and twelve years, respectively.

Munch, who lived from 1863 to 1944, is considered one of Europe's most important expressionist artists. He made several versions of the two recovered works.