PARIS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- One of French artist Edgar Degas' paintings was stolen overnight from a museum in south France's port city of Marseilles, police said on Thursday.

    While local police said that the stolen piece has an estimated value of 30 million euros (45 million U.S. dollars), the French national museums service said it was only worth 800,000 euros (1.14 million dollars).

    The colorful painting "Les Choristes" (or "the Chorus Singers")by the 19th century artist was on exhibition in the Cantini Museum, which is located in central Marseilles.

    The small painting depicting singers performance on stage measures 32 centimeters by 27 and was finished in 1877.

    According to local media, museum staff found it missing in the morning at opening hour. They said the worth of the painting was "incalculable." City officials called the theft "a catastrophe for the museum."

    The museum is now closed as police investigation is underway.