VIENNA: An early work by symbolist painter Gustav Klimt that had been missing for years has been discovered in a garage in Austria, the Austria newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported on Sunday.

The painting of a trumpet-painting cherub once adorned the ceiling of a Vienna studio where the painter lived from 1883 to 1892, but vanished some years ago when a lift was installed in the building, the report said.

"The precious painting is in astonishingly good condition," art dealer Josef Renz told the newspaper.

He said the owner had only just recognised the value of the fresco by Klimt - whose 150th birthday was on Saturday - and had immediately sent for him. Renz is a well-known dealer who has been instrumental in rescuing artefacts of the Habsburg empire period.

Renz did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on Sunday.

Kronen Zeitung said the painting would soon be presented to the public.