Four pieces of artwork by the 15th-century artist Antonello da Messina were reported 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 works include parts of the only surviving collection by the Renaissance painter in his native city and a small painting acquired by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago. The incident occurred on Saturday night during a national holiday in Italy.
Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the theft as devastating, occurring just before 10 p.m. She highlighted that the stolen pieces were among Antonello da Messina’s most significant and well-known works, emphasizing the loss to the museum, city, community, and the art world.
Local councillor Enzo Caruso mentioned that the museum’s recent acquisition of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million US may have attracted the attention of the thief or thieves. The stolen pieces included three panels from an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio,” out of the original six panels that were intended for a monastery destroyed during the 1908 earthquake in Messina.
Furthermore, a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other was also among the stolen artworks. The theft came shortly after the recovery of paintings by French masters Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse that were stolen from a museum near Parma earlier this year.
Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson noted that the stolen works are easily recognizable, making it challenging to sell them through legitimate channels. She warned that selling such famous artworks could prove difficult for the thieves, potentially leading to repercussions. Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples and showcased influences from Provençal and Flemish artists in his works before returning to Messina in 1457, where he continued his artistic endeavors until 1474.