Four pieces of art 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 of the theft. The incident has left Messina without parts of the only remaining work by the Renaissance painter in his hometown, along with a small painting acquired by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago.
The theft occurred on Saturday night, coinciding with a national holiday in Italy, according to reports. Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the event as devastating, noting that the theft took place just before 10 p.m. She emphasized that the stolen pieces were among Antonello da Messina’s most significant and well-known works, signifying a significant loss for the museum and the art community.
Local councillor Enzo Caruso likened the situation to a movie plot and suggested that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million earlier in the year may have attracted the attention of the thieves. Three out of five panels from an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio” were among the stolen pieces.
The fourth stolen artwork was a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side, and Christ on the other. This piece was taken from a secure display case. The stolen works are distinctive and easily recognizable, making it challenging for the thieves to sell them through legitimate channels.
Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson highlighted the difficulty of selling such renowned artworks and warned that the thieves may face consequences for their actions. Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples and incorporated influences from Provençal and Flemish artists into his works before returning to Messina in 1457, where he continued his artistic endeavors until 1474.
The theft occurred shortly after Italian authorities recovered paintings by French masters stolen from a museum near Parma in March. This incident underscored the ongoing challenges related to art theft and the illicit art market.