Four Renaissance paintings of immense value were stolen from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina in Sicily this past Saturday. Italian culture minister Alessandro Giuli confirmed the theft involves three panels from the Polyptych of San Gregorio and a double-sided panel showing the Madonna with Child and Christ in Pietà. All these works are attributed to the 15th-century master Antonello da Messina.
The heist occurred around 21:50 local time. Investigators suspect the theft was carried out by individuals targeting specific works for the black market. Reports indicate that the thieves bypassed museum security systems to gain entry. The Madonna and Christ in Pietà panel was extracted directly from a secure display case, a detail that suggests a high level of preparation and intent to bypass physical security measures.
Antonello da Messina remains a central figure in Sicilian art history. The San Gregorio Polyptych, originally commissioned in 1473 for the monastery of Santa Maria, represents a significant portion of his surviving output. The smaller double-sided panel was intended for private worship, showing the infant Christ on one side and the adult Christ on the other. Local officials, including Mayor Federico Basile, labeled the incident a violation of the city's shared history.
This event follows a trend of museum thefts across Europe. Authorities are comparing these details to other recent high-profile cases, including the recovery of stolen works by Cézanne and others near Parma. The Italian specialist art crime unit is leading the current investigation into the Messina theft to identify those responsible for the disappearance of these irreplaceable historical artifacts.