Four pieces by the 15th-century artist Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina, according to Italy’s culture minister. Alessandro Giuli expressed shock and sadness upon learning of the theft. This incident has stripped Messina of portions of the only existing work by the Renaissance artist in his hometown and a small painting obtained by the Sicilian Region two decades ago. The theft occurred on Saturday night during a national holiday in Italy, as reported by media outlets.
Marisa Mercurio, the museum director, described the event as devastating, mentioning that the theft took place just before 10 p.m. She emphasized that the stolen pieces were among Antonello da Messina’s most significant and well-known works, signifying 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 earlier this year might have drawn the attention of the thief or thieves. Three out of the five remaining panels from an altarpiece called “Polittico di San Gregorio” were stolen. Originally consisting of six panels and intended for a local monastery that was destroyed in the 1908 earthquake, this altarpiece was the only piece by the Sicilian artist that had never left his hometown. Another artwork, a small two-sided painting portraying the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other, was also taken from a secure display case.
The stolen artwork was part of the Wilhelm Soldan collection and was acquired by the Sicilian Region in 2003 after being attributed to the artist that year. In February, Italy’s Culture Ministry purchased another two-sided painting known as “Ecce Homo” from Sotheby’s just before it was scheduled for auction. Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson noted that these works are easily recognizable, making it challenging to sell them through legitimate channels. She warned that stealing an Antonello da Messina painting might be simpler than selling one, as they could end up being used as collateral for illicit activities by criminals.
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples, where he was influenced by Provençal and Flemish artists. He later returned to Messina in 1457 and worked there until 1474. The theft occurred after Italian police recovered paintings by French masters Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse that had been stolen from a museum near the northern city of Parma in March.