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In the US a multi-million dollar Roy Lichtenstein painting which has been missing for 42 years has finally been returned to its owner.

The black and white 1961 painting entitled "Electric Cord" was handed back to the owner's widow Barbara Castelli during a press conference in New York where US Attorney Preet Bhara explained the full story.

US Attorney Preet Bhara:

"This painting 'Electric Cord' was done by Roy Lichtenstein in 1961. Leo Castelli, a well-known American art dealer, acquired it in the early 1960s for the bargain price of about 750 dollars. It is now worth about 4 million dollars. It was displayed after the purchase by the Castelli Gallery for a number of years. And then in January 1970, the art gallery sent it out to be cleaned. The gallery sent it to an art restorer by the name of Daniel Goldreyer, but as most of you know by now, it never came back."

According to the FBI after Daniel Goldreyer died in 2009, his widow, Sally, discovered the painting while cleaning out the lockers of his company's employees. Sally Goldreyer claims she did not know the painting was missing until she found a missing notice on the Internet. Goldreyer relinquished all rights to the painting so the US Attorney's office said no charges would be made.

Meanwhile Barbara Castelli said she has no intention of selling the artwork.

Barbara Castelli, painting owner:

"I think that I am going to hang it up in my home. I guess I'll check that it is in good shape, first of all. It looks good. Maybe frame it."

In May, Lichtenstein's painting "Sleeping Girl" sold at auction for USD .8 million.