Four pieces of art by the 15th-century artist Antonello da Messina were taken 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. Among the stolen pieces were significant works by the Renaissance painter, including the only surviving artwork in his native city and a painting acquired by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago.
The theft occurred on a national holiday in Italy, reportedly taking place late on Saturday night. Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the incident as devastating, emphasizing the loss to the museum, the city, the community, and the art world. Enzo Caruso, a local councilor in charge of culture, mentioned that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million may have drawn the attention of the thieves.
The stolen items included three panels from an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio,” which originally consisted of six panels. The altarpiece was intended for a local monastery destroyed in the 1908 earthquake, making it the only work by the Sicilian painter to have always remained in Messina. Another stolen piece was a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other.
Following the theft, experts noted the difficulty in selling such recognizable artworks through legitimate channels. Lynda Albertson, an art-crime analyst, warned that although stealing an Antonello da Messina painting might be relatively easy, selling it would prove challenging. She highlighted that famous stolen artworks often circulate within criminal circles as collateral for illicit activities.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples and was influenced by Provençal and Flemish artists. He returned to Messina in 1457 and continued his work until 1474. The theft occurred shortly after the recovery of three paintings by French masters that were stolen from a museum near Parma in March.