Four pieces of artwork by the 15th-century artist Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina, as confirmed by Italy’s culture minister on Sunday. Alessandro Giuli expressed shock and sadness upon learning about the theft. The stolen pieces include part of the only existing work by the Renaissance painter in his hometown and a small painting acquired by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago. The theft occurred on Saturday night during a national holiday in Italy.
Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the incident, which took place just before 10 p.m., as devastating. The stolen artworks are considered among Antonello da Messina’s most significant and well-known pieces, representing a significant loss for the museum, the city, the community, and the art world.
Local councillor Enzo Caruso suggested that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million earlier this year might have attracted the attention of the thieves. The stolen items included three panels from an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio,” initially consisting of six panels and never leaving the artist’s hometown.
Another artwork stolen was a two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other, taken from a secure display case. The theft follows the recent recovery of paintings by other artists, including Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse, which were stolen from a museum near Parma in March.
Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson highlighted the challenge of selling such recognizable works, suggesting that stealing them might be easier than selling them through legitimate channels. These famous artworks often circulate among criminals, serving as collateral for illicit activities.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples before returning to Messina in 1457, where he worked until 1474.
