Thieves Steal Antonello da Messina Artworks Worth Millions in Sicily

In the city of Messina, Sicily, thieves stole four artworks attributed to Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina. These works, worth millions of euros, were taken on the same weekend when many people were celebrating the traditional Assumption holiday, according to cultural officials and Italian media.

The MuMe museum’s alarm and security systems were bypassed by the robbers on Saturday evening. Three of the five known panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, which dates back to 1473, were stolen. A double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and the dead Christ in Pietà was also removed from an armored display case, as reported by LaPresse news agency. While all five panels were removed, two were left behind a wall during the thieves’ escape.

“We are devastated by what happened. They were two of Antonello da Messina’s most important and best-known works. It is a tremendous loss for the museum, the city, the community and the art world,”

Some of the stolen paintings are highly valued. Art expert Alberto Fiz estimated their worth to be between 70 and 80 million euros. The director of MuMe, Marisa Mercurio, confirmed the theft occurred just before 10 p.m., noting that alarms were operational and guards present. She emphasized the importance of these works to the cultural identity of the region and their artistic significance.

Messina’s leading cultural figure, Enzo Caruso, described the theft as more than a loss, calling it a disaster. He urged for the swift recovery of the stolen art, emphasizing the cultural void left in the city’s representation of the European Renaissance. Earlier in the year, international attention had risen for Antonello da Messina after Italy’s Culture Ministry acquired his painting “Ecce Homo” for $14.9 million in New York through Sotheby’s.

Lynda Albertson, an analyst specializing in art crimes, noted the challenges of selling such recognizable works on the open market. She explained that the paintings could circulate among criminals as assets for illegal activities.

The museum was closed while investigators worked at the site. Attempts to reach museum officials and Carabinieri for comments were unsuccessful. The Ferragosto holiday celebration, marking the Assumption of Mary, coincided with the time of the theft. This comes not long after a recovery of three stolen artworks by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse in Parma, with five individuals detained.