Stolen Matisse Painting 'Odalisque In Red Pants' Recovered And Returned To Venezuela

In 2000, a painting by Henri Matisse, valued at $3 million, was stolen from a museum in Venezuela after it was replaced with a copy, leaving the art world devastated. But the piece -- titled "Odalisque in Red Pants" -- was recovered last year when a couple attempted to sell it to undercover FBI agents in a hotel in Miami Beach for $740,000. Now, the 1925 painting was returned to the Caracas Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday and its return received VIP treatment -- pictures were taken as if a celebrity were arriving.

The discovery of the stolen painting occurred in 2002 when a gallery owner in Miami contacted the Caracas Museum of Contemporary Art, stating that someone had attempted to sell the piece to him. Upon examination, experts were surprised to find that the piece was a fake. Even more shocking is that the poor replica had not been detected until the examination.

Upon learning that a man was trying to sell the painting, FBI agents went undercover and arrested Pedro Antonio Marcuello and María Martha Ornelas for the stolen painting. Ornelas reportedly told the agents that the painting had been stolen by museum employees. Unfortunately for the museum, 144 pieces were reported being fakes and they have yet to be discovered. That said, none of the pieces were on the level of Matisse pieces.