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 of the theft. The stolen artworks included parts of the only surviving collection by the Renaissance painter in his hometown and a small painting acquired by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago. The theft occurred on Saturday night, coinciding with a national holiday in Italy.
Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the incident as devastating, mentioning that the theft happened just before 10 p.m. She emphasized that two of Antonello da Messina’s most significant and well-known works were taken, causing a significant loss for the museum, the city, the community, and the art world.
Enzo Caruso, a local councilor overseeing culture, remarked that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million may have attracted the attention of the thief or thieves. Three out of the five remaining panels from an altarpiece called “Polittico di San Gregorio” were among the stolen pieces. Originally consisting of six panels and intended for a local monastery destroyed by an earthquake in 1908, this altarpiece was the only artwork by the Sicilian painter never to have left his birthplace. Additionally, a fourth artwork, a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other, was also taken.
In a related context, the theft occurred shortly after Italian police successfully recovered three paintings by French artists that had been stolen from a museum near the northern city of Parma in March. Born around 1430, Antonello da Messina trained in Naples, where he studied the works of Provençal and Flemish artists, evident in his artistic style. He later returned to Messina in 1457, where he continued his work until 1474.
Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson noted that the stolen works are easily recognizable, making it challenging to sell them through legitimate channels. She warned that while stealing an Antonello painting may be relatively simple, selling one could prove difficult and costly for the culprits. Such valuable artworks often circulate among criminals, serving as collateral for illicit activities.
