Scream painting back on display

The expressionist painting, which has been restored by experts, was recovered in August 2006. It had been damaged when it was pulled out of its frame.

It is being shown complete with a damp spot in the lower left hand corner.

The Scream was taken alongside the artist's Madonna, which is also back on display at Oslo's Munch Museum.

The museum says it has increased security for the Scream and Madonna - Revisited exhibition, which will run until 26 September.

It was a challenge because we didn't know anything about what these two paintings had been through Mette Havrevold Restoration expert

Mette Havrevold, head of Oslo city's art conservation department, said the process of restoring the paintings had been a meticulous one.

"It was a challenge because we didn't know anything about what these two paintings had been through," she said.

"There were a lot of unknowns, in particular about where the humidity stain [in the bottom corner] came from."

She said that, as she and her team were not certain they could repair the stain, it would remain because "it would be stupid to do something that would worsen the damage".

Ripped canvas

Unveiling the paintings to reporters on Wednesday, museum chief Ingebjoerg Ydstie said it was now thought The Scream had been painted in 1910 - not in 1893 as was previously thought.