Four pieces of artwork by Antonello da Messina, a renowned 15th-century painter, were reported 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 artist, which were part of the only collection remaining in his hometown and a painting acquired by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago.
The theft occurred on Saturday night, coinciding with a national holiday in Italy, according to media reports. Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the incident as devastating, noting that the theft occurred just before 10 p.m. The stolen artworks, considered among Antonello da Messina’s most important and well-known works, represent a significant loss for the museum, the city, and the art community.
Enzo Caruso, a local councilor overseeing culture, likened the theft to a movie scene. He suggested that the recent purchase of a Messina artwork by the Italian government for $15 million earlier in the year might have drawn attention to the museum from the perpetrators. The stolen pieces included three panels from an altarpiece called “Polittico di San Gregorio,” originally consisting of six panels intended for a local monastery destroyed during an earthquake in 1908.
Additionally, a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other was taken from a secure display case. This artwork was part of the Wilhelm Soldan collection and was acquired by the Sicilian Region in 2003. In February, the Italian Culture Ministry purchased another two-sided painting, known as “Ecce Homo,” from Sotheby’s before it could be auctioned.
The theft of these recognizable artworks raises concerns about their potential sale through legitimate channels, according to art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson. She explained that selling stolen art of this caliber is challenging and often leads to further criminal activities involving the artworks as collateral. 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 follows the recent recovery of three paintings by French masters stolen from a museum near Parma in March. Italian police had successfully retrieved the artworks by Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse before the latest incident of theft in Messina.
