Police return Joseph II painting stolen from Heiligenkreuz

A painting of Emperor Joseph II stolen from Heiligenkreuz Abbey in 2014 has been recovered after a police officer spotted it at an auction, ORF reported. Criminal investigators returned the work to the abbey last week.

The painting was taken from the Leopoldisaal, a hall in the abbey’s guesthouse. It will be hung there again, the abbey said.

The abbey said it still could not explain how the theft happened without anyone noticing. It said it was surprised when police called to report that the painting had resurfaced.