Flea market Renoir ordered returned to museum

This Impressionist Renoir painting was bought for next to nothing at a Virginia flea market in 2009.

Marcia "Martha" Fuqua bought Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Paysage Bords de Seine" for just seven U.S. dollars. But the soiled, napkin-size work of art has actually been valued at up to 100,000 dollars.

In 1951, it was stolen from the Baltimore Museum of Art. On Friday, Judge Leonie Brinkema dismissed Fuqua's claim of ownership, and said the painting must be returned to the museum.

Baltimore Museum of Art attorney Marla Diaz.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MARLA DIAZ, BALTIMORE MUSEUM'S ATTORNEY, SAYING:

"We have had a result from the court today on our motion for partial summery judgment, that has dismissed the claim of the owner who purported to buy the painting at the flee market, and as a result the court has indicated that it will be returning to the painting to the Baltimore Museum of Art, which is the decision we are very delighted about."

Fuqua said she did