Four pieces of art by Antonello da Messina, a renowned 15th-century painter, were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina, as stated by Italy’s culture minister on Sunday. Alessandro Giuli expressed shock and sadness upon learning about the theft, emphasizing the significance of the stolen works as they were the only surviving pieces by the Renaissance artist in his hometown and included a painting acquired by the Sicilian Region two decades ago.
The theft occurred on a national holiday in Italy, with the museum director, Marisa Mercurio, describing the incident as devastating. She highlighted that the stolen artworks were among Antonello da Messina’s most important and well-known pieces, leading to a significant loss for the museum, the city, the community, and the art world.
Local councilor Enzo Caruso suggested that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian state for $15 million may have attracted the attention of the thieves. Three panels from an altarpiece called “Polittico di San Gregorio” were among the stolen works, originally consisting of six panels meant for a local monastery destroyed in the 1908 earthquake. Another stolen piece was a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and Christ.
The theft follows the recent recovery of paintings by French masters Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse in Italy. The stolen artworks are distinct and recognizable, making it challenging to sell them through legitimate channels. Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson warned that while stealing an Antonello da Messina piece might be straightforward, selling it could pose difficulties, potentially leading to the artworks being used as collateral for illicit activities.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples before returning to Messina to work until 1474. The recent theft occurred shortly after Italian authorities recovered the stolen French masterpieces near Parma.