Four pieces of artwork by Antonello da Messina, a painter from the 15th century, were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina, as confirmed by Italy’s culture minister. Alessandro Giuli expressed shock and sadness upon learning of the theft. The stolen pieces include parts of the only surviving works by the Renaissance painter in his hometown and a small painting obtained by the Sicilian Region twenty years ago.
The theft occurred on a national holiday in Italy, specifically on Saturday night. Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the incident that took place just before 10 p.m. as devastating. She emphasized that the stolen artworks, two of Antonello da Messina’s most significant and well-known pieces, represent a substantial loss for the museum, city, community, and the art world.
Enzo Caruso, a local councillor overseeing culture, likened the theft to a movie scenario. He suggested 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. The stolen pieces were three out of the five panels that formed an altarpiece called “Polittico di San Gregorio.”
One of the stolen artworks was a small two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other. This piece was part of the Wilhelm Soldan collection and was acquired by the Sicilian Region in 2003, the year it was attributed to the artist.
In a separate incident, the Italian Culture Ministry purchased a two-sided painting known as “Ecce Homo” from Sotheby’s in February, just before it was scheduled for auction. According to Lynda Albertson, an art-crime analyst, the high profile of these artworks makes them easily recognizable, complicating any attempts to sell them through legitimate channels. She warned that while stealing an Antonello da Messina painting might be simple, selling one could prove challenging for the thieves.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, received his training in Naples and was influenced by Provençal and Flemish artists. He later returned to Messina in 1457, where he continued his artistic endeavors until 1474. The theft of the artworks occurred shortly after the recovery of three paintings by French masters stolen from a museum near Parma in March, a positive development in the realm of art theft investigations.