NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — An original Claude Monet painting seized by the Nazis in World War II is now in the hands of the heirs of the original owners. It is a story that stretches from Europe to New Orleans. FBI New Orleans special agents, representatives from the FBI's Art Crime Team, the FBI New York Field Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District presented a pastel created by Claude Monet to the heirs of its original owners today. The piece was seized by the German Gestapo in 1940, and the case stretched from Europe to New York to finally in New Orleans. North Star Theatre: Shining a spotlight on decades of talent on the Northshore "In this case, it took us from a shipping container in a Viennesse warehouse in 1938 to right here, right now, eight decades later," First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana said. After years of investigating, the FBI is returning the Monet painting titled, "Bord de Mer" and was painted in 1845. (Courtesy FBI New Orleans) "This case is colored by many different shades of grey," Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil with the FBI New Orleans Field Office said. Adalbert and Hilda Parlagi owned this Monet until 1938 when they fled Vienna, leaving all their possessions behind during World War II when the Nazis stole it. "Mr. and Mrs. Perlagi were unjustly deprived of this artwork," Simpson said. FBI New Orleans’ ‘Operation Clean House’ results in 155 arrests After the war ended the Perlagi family looked for their looted property with no success. Then in 2014, the family approached The Commission for Looted Art in Europe. "Acknowledging what was taken was their identity, the landscape of their lives," Anne Webber, CBE, co-chair, The Commission for Looted Art in Europe. Surprisingly, this Monet somehow ended up at a New Orleans gallery where the Schlamp family bought it and took it to their home in Sulphur, Louisiana, until 2021, when they tried to sell it. "The FBI sent us emails saying it was stolen. We knew it was a masterpiece, but had no idea it was a stolen one. We were clear that it needed to be returned to its rightful owners," said Bridget Vita-Shlamp Now the art was returned to the heirs Helen Lowe and Francoise Parlagi, grandchildren of Adalbert and Hilda Parlagi. Artist Rodney King adds surprises to this year’s Gretna Fest poster "It is just something that's very touching," Lowe said. "I am overwhelmed by what is happening, I thin I cannot find the words. I couldn't believe it. This is why it is a special moment," Parlagi said. Both granddaughters feel that their grandfather would be very pleased. "I wouldn't have thought this would be happening. He couldn't have imagined," Parlagi said. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts 5 takeaways from the Arizona Senate debate Cooler temperatures, clear skies expected for NOLA through the weekend NOPD searching for two suspects in CBD business burglary NOFD responds to Irish Channel house fire Watch: Massive 28-foot wave captured inside Hurricane Milton