By MATTHIEU WINTREBERT , Associated Press

PARIS - Police say a painting by Impressionist Edgar Degas worth euro800,000 ($1.15 million) has been stolen from an exhibit in Marseille.

A police official says the painting, "Les Choristes," (or "The Chorus Singers"), was stolen overnight from the Cantini Museum. The official was not authorized to be publicly named because of police policy.

The French national museum authority said the painting — a small pastel painted in 1876-77 — is worth euro800,000. It belongs to the famed Musee d'Orsay in Paris, known for its impressionist works.

A security guard discovered it was missing when opening the museum Thursday morning. The museum is closed Thursday while the theft is being investigated.

Reuters January 1, 2010

MARSEILLE (REUTERS).- A painting by French impressionist artist Edgar Degas was stolen from a museum on Wednesday night in Marseille in southern France, the city's prosecutor said.

The painting, named "The Chorus," was worth an estimated 30 million euros ($43.02 million), local media reported.

The work belonged to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and had been loaned to Marseille's Cantini museum for an exhibition that was due to close on January 3.

"The disappearance of this very expensive painting was discovered when the museum opened on Thursday morning. There do not seem to be any signs of breaking and entering," Marseille public prosecutor Jacques Dallest told Reuters.

The Musee d'Orsay, which has been loaning out many works in recent months to raise funds, declined to comment on the theft. (Reporting by Francois Revilla; Writing by Sophie Taylor, editing by Paul Casciato)