Four pieces of artwork by the renowned 15th-century painter Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina, as confirmed by Italy’s culture minister on Sunday. Alessandro Giuli expressed deep shock and sorrow upon learning about the theft. This incident has resulted in the loss of significant works by the Renaissance artist that were the only remaining pieces in his hometown and a small painting acquired by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago.
The theft occurred on Saturday night during a national holiday in Italy, according to media reports. Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the event as devastating, noting that the theft took place just before 10 p.m. She emphasized the importance of the stolen artworks by Antonello da Messina, labeling it a substantial loss for the museum, the city, the local community, and the art world.
Local councillor Enzo Caruso suggested that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million could have attracted the attention of the thieves. Three out of the five remaining panels from an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio” were among the stolen pieces. Originally consisting of six panels and intended for a local monastery destroyed in the 1908 earthquake, this altarpiece was the only work by the Sicilian painter that had never left his hometown.
Another stolen artwork was a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other. The painting was part of the Wilhelm Soldan collection, sold by Christie’s to the Sicilian Region in 2003 after being attributed to the artist that year. In a separate incident in February, the Italian Culture Ministry acquired a two-sided painting called “Ecce Homo” from Sotheby’s just before it was scheduled for auction.
Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson highlighted the challenge of selling such recognizable works, which may hinder efforts to sell them through legitimate channels. She warned that stealing an Antonello da Messina painting might be easier than selling it due to its distinctiveness. Albertson suggested that these stolen artworks could circulate among criminals, serving as collateral for illicit activities.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, received his training in Naples, where he studied the works of Provençal and Flemish artists, influencing his own artistic style. He later returned to Messina in 1457 and continued working there until 1474. The theft occurred shortly after Italian police successfully recovered three paintings by French masters that were stolen from a museum near the northern city of Parma in March.