in italy are still trying to figure out who stole a famous paint the big tenth century master gustav klimtf lady was recovered in december inside the same gallery it was stolen from 23 years before. seth doane is on the case. >> reporter: she looks unfazed, not a bit like a woman who has been missing nearly 23 years. but italian authorities claim they'd authenticated the stolen "portrait of a lady" painted by austrian master gustav klimt. as art mysteries go, how good is this? >> well, it's the stuff upon which miniseries are made, right? >> reporter: art historian live lev told us the decades-long real life drama puzzled investigators and quite possibly a distinctive style. you kind of take it down to the local pawnshop, hey, i've got to get rid of this, someone is going to go hmm. >> reporter: the portrait was reported mittsing from a gallery in 1997. then this december police were called to the gallery grounds after a gardner, who had been clearing ivy, discovered a hole in the wall, and unbelievably, the painting. >> the painting is in very good condition. the first thing they checked