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 artworks include parts of the only surviving collection by the Renaissance painter in his hometown and a small painting acquired by the Sicilian Region two decades ago.
The theft occurred on Saturday night during a national holiday in Italy. Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the incident as devastating, noting that the theft took place just before 10 p.m. She emphasized the significance of the stolen works, labeling them as two of Antonello da Messina’s most crucial and widely recognized pieces, marking a substantial loss for the museum, the city, the community, and the art industry.
Local councillor Enzo Caruso remarked that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million US earlier in the year might have drawn the attention of the thieves to the museum. Three out of the five remaining panels from the altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio” were stolen. Originally consisting of six panels, the altarpiece was destined for a local monastery that was destroyed during the 1908 earthquake in Messina, making it the only work by the Sicilian artist to have never left his birthplace.
Additionally, a fourth artwork, a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other, was also stolen from a secure display case. This theft follows the recent recovery of paintings by other artists, including Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse, that were stolen from a museum near the northern city of Parma in March.
Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson noted that the stolen works by Antonello da Messina are easily recognizable, making it challenging to sell them through legitimate channels. She warned that selling such famous artworks may prove difficult for ordinary thieves. Albertson highlighted that these valuable artworks often circulate among criminals, serving as collateral for illicit activities.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, received his training in Naples, where he studied the works of Provençal and Flemish artists, evident in his own creations. He later returned to Messina in 1457, where he remained until 1474.
