A monumental painting by 20th century American master Robert Motherwell was recently found after going missing four decades ago, announced the FBI and Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, last week.

Berman said: “The storied past of this magnificent piece may never be known.  But now, thankfully, 40 years after Robert Motherwell began painting this piece, this work of art is where it should be: with the Dedalus Foundation and for the benefit of the public.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeny Jr. added: “Robert Motherwell was an influential and iconic artist of his time.  His love of the abstract inspired him to create works enjoyed by many still today. Unfortunately, several of his paintings went missing about four decades ago – the 1967 Untitled piece is but one of them.

Motherwell never titled this work of art before it vanished. Maybe, after all, that’s part of its story – one that begins a new chapter here today.  We are honored to restore this extraordinary piece to the Dedalus Foundation, so that those who appreciate the value of fine art may now come to know the true narrative of the painting’s past, present, and future.”

Authorities said the painting, "Untitled, 1967," was discovered by a man in upstate New York who was helping his mother clean out her garage. The unidentified man's father once worked for the moving company that transported Motherwell's work in the 1960s and 70s. Dozens of works from the period are still missing.

Much of Motherwell's work was deeded to the Dedalus Foundation in 1991, upon the artist's death, and the recovered "Untitled" will join the foundation's collection.

The painting is vauled at about $1 million.