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 about the theft, which includes significant works by the Renaissance painter that were part of the only collection remaining in his hometown. The theft occurred on a national holiday in Italy, with museum director Marisa Mercurio describing it as a devastating loss for the museum, city, community, and art world.
Enzo Caruso, a local councilor overseeing culture, likened the incident to a movie plot and speculated that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million may have attracted the attention of the thieves. The stolen pieces were three panels from an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio” and a small two-sided painting featuring the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other.
In a separate incident, three famous paintings by French artists were recovered by Italian police just before the theft at the museum in Messina. The stolen artworks are recognized for their unique characteristics, making it challenging to sell them through legitimate channels. Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson warned that stealing such renowned pieces may be easier than selling them, as they are often used as collateral for illicit activities.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples before returning to Messina, where he created his notable works until 1474. This theft follows a recent recovery of stolen paintings by French masters and raises concerns about the security of valuable artworks in Italy.