Four pieces of art by Antonello da Messina, a 15th-century painter, 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, emphasizing the significance of losing parts of the only surviving works by the Renaissance artist in his hometown. The incident occurred on Saturday night, coinciding with a national holiday in Italy.
Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the theft as devastating, highlighting the importance of the stolen pieces by Antonello da Messina. Enzo Caruso, a local councilor overseeing culture, speculated that the museum’s recent acquisition of a Messina artwork for $15 million from the Italian state might have drawn the attention of the thieves.
The stolen pieces included three panels from an altarpiece called “Polittico di San Gregorio,” originally consisting of six panels intended for a monastery destroyed in an earthquake. Another artwork taken was a small dual-sided painting featuring the Virgin with Child and Christ. The theft follows the recent recovery of paintings by French masters Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse near Parma.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples before returning to Messina in 1457, where he created his notable works. The stolen pieces are easily recognizable, making them challenging to sell through legitimate channels, noted Lynda Albertson, an art-crime analyst. She warned that selling stolen artworks like those by Antonello da Messina could have severe consequences for the thieves involved.