Oslo - Norwegian police said Wednesday they have recovered a painting by German master Lucas Carnach, the elder, stolen over the weekend.

The announcement was made hours after police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of involvement in the theft.

Initial inspection suggested the actual painting was not damaged even though there was some damage to the frame, police spokesman Magne Pedersen told public broadcaster NRK.

Pedersen said the investigation was ongoing and declined to offer details of what role the suspect had in connection with the theft.

According to some estimates the painting was worth at least 15 million kroner (2.1 million dollars).

The theft has sparked a debate on the need to improve security of valuable art in churches and other public buildings.

A Norwegian insurance company Tuesday posted a reward worth 500,000 kroner for information securing the safe return of the painting.

The over 400-year-old painting was stolen from Larvik Church, some 105 kilometres southwest of Oslo. The congregation has owned it for over 300 years.

Carnach (1472-1553) was a German Renaissance painter who made several portraits of German theologian and church reformer Martin Luther, and also illustrated the Bible that Luther translated into German.