Four pieces of art created 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. The stolen artworks include significant pieces by the Renaissance painter that were the only ones remaining in his hometown, as well as a small painting obtained by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago.
The theft occurred on Saturday night, coinciding with a national holiday in Italy. Museum director Marisa Mercurio described the incident as devastating, noting that the theft occurred just before 10 p.m. The stolen artworks were considered among Antonello da Messina’s most important and well-known works, representing a substantial loss for the museum, the city, the local community, and the art world.
Local councillor Enzo Caruso, responsible for culture, mentioned 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. The stolen pieces were part of an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio,” with three out of five remaining panels taken. Originally consisting of six panels and intended for a local monastery destroyed in an earthquake in 1908, the altarpiece was the only work by the Sicilian painter that had never left his birthplace. Additionally, a fourth artwork depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other was also stolen from a secure display case.
The recent theft follows the recovery of paintings by other artists earlier this year. The stolen artwork, attributed to Wilhelm Soldan and acquired by the Sicilian Region in 2003, was part of the collection. Expert analysis noted that these stolen works are distinctive and easily recognizable, making it challenging to sell them through legitimate channels. Lynda Albertson, an art-crime analyst, explained that selling such famous artworks could prove difficult for thieves, leading to potential repercussions.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples and was influenced by Provençal and Flemish artists. He returned to Messina in 1457, where he continued his artistic endeavors until 1474. The theft incident occurred shortly after Italian authorities recovered paintings by French masters that were stolen from a museum near Parma earlier in the year.