Four pieces of art by Antonello da Messina, a renowned 15th-century painter, were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina, as confirmed by Italy’s culture minister on Sunday. Alessandro Giuli expressed his shock and sadness upon learning about the theft, emphasizing the significance of the stolen artworks as part of the painter’s legacy in his hometown. The incident occurred on a national holiday in Italy on Saturday night, leaving the museum and the community devastated.
The stolen artworks include two of Antonello da Messina’s most valuable pieces, which were taken from a secure display case at the museum. The theft was described as a significant loss not only for the museum and the city but also for the wider art world. Local authorities speculated that the recent high-profile acquisition of a Messina artwork by the Italian state might have drawn the attention of the thieves to the museum.
The stolen pieces were part of an altarpiece known as “Polittico di San Gregorio,” originally consisting of six panels, three of which were taken in the theft. The altarpiece, never before leaving Messina, held historical and cultural significance to the region. Another stolen artwork was a small two-sided painting portraying the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other.
The theft follows the recent recovery of paintings by French masters in Italy, signaling ongoing challenges with art theft and recovery. Art experts expressed concerns about the difficulty of selling stolen artworks of such recognition, highlighting the risks involved for the thieves. The stolen Antonello da Messina pieces are distinctive and easily identifiable, making them challenging to sell through legitimate channels.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples and returned to Messina in 1457, where he continued his artistic endeavors until 1474. The theft occurred shortly after Italian authorities successfully recovered stolen paintings by renowned French artists in a separate incident.