NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Members of a New Orleans punk rock band called Stereo Fire Empire have found and turned over to police two stolen artworks by the late Cajun artist George Rodrigue. The works were discovered by bandmembers on Tuesday night, leaning against a wall of the Omni Royal Hotel in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

The painter’s son, Jacques Rodrigue, said one of the works, a “Blue Dog” painting valued at $250,000, had been taken from the Rodrigue Gallery on Royal Street on Tuesday, in a brazen daylight heist.

The second artwork, a print, is believed to have been sold years ago through the George Rodrigue Founmdation of the Arts. Police are attempting to locate the owner.

The painting stolen from the Rodrigue Gallery, titled Wendy and Me, is valued at $250,000. The theft was recorded on security video, which is being reviewed by New Orleans police.

George Rodrigue (1944-2013) already had a following for his paintings of Acadian life when he gained fame for his depictions of a small blue dog with pointy ears and yellow eyes. The painting Wendy and Me shows a tuxedo-clad blue dog standing next to the late artist’s wife, Wendy, in her wedding gown.

After the recovery of the painting, Jacques Rodrigue commented: “We are so thankful for the Good Samaritans that saved this special artwork. Dad painted ‘Wendy and Me’ for his wedding to Wendy, so this is an irreplaceable piece to my family. We are overjoyed to have it returned undamaged.”

Auction Central News contributed to this report.

Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This information may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.