Four rare paintings by 15th-century master Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina in Sicily during the night of August 15. Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli confirmed the break-in and highlighted the extraordinary value of the missing works.
The stolen pieces include three wooden panels from the Polyptych of Saint Gregory and a small double-sided painting removed from an armored glass display case. The raid occurred at around 9:50 p.m. during Ferragosto holiday celebrations, while many residents gathered near the city cathedral for religious ceremonies.
According to initial police reconstructions reported by news agency Ansa, the thieves entered the museum grounds after cutting part of a fence at a secondary entrance. Ferragosto is an annual Italian national holiday celebrated on August 15. The Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina, known as MuMe, is one of the island's primary public museums and houses major collections of Sicilian visual art.
Stolen Masterpieces and Dropped Panels
The three stolen panels from the Polyptych of Saint Gregory depict the Virgin Mary, the Angel Gabriel, and the Annunciate. Antonello da Messina painted the multi-panel altarpiece in 1473. The work originally consisted of six panels, though one was lost earlier in its history.
Thieves also took a small wooden panel painted on both sides, which had been displayed inside a reinforced glass case. One side depicts the Virgin and Child with a Franciscan friar, while the reverse side shows the Christ of Pity. Its small size indicates it was created as an object for private devotion.
The intruders initially unmounted all five surviving panels of the polyptych from their display. However, they abandoned two panels depicting Saint Benedict and Saint Gregory on the far side of the museum's perimeter wall during their retreat. Police believe the presence of pedestrians nearby may have interrupted the getaway.
Abbess Fabria Cirino of the monastery of Santa Maria extra moenia originally commissioned the Polyptych of Saint Gregory in the 15th century. The masterpiece suffered severe damage during the catastrophic 1908 Messina earthquake and was subsequently restored several times.
Targeted Heist and Police Investigation
Law enforcement authorities are investigating whether the break-in was a targeted theft commissioned by a private buyer, according to news agency Ansa. Detectives noted that the rapid execution of the raid and the selection of specific masterworks indicate careful planning.
Investigators are working to determine if the thieves possessed advance knowledge of the layout of secondary entry points and the precise placement of the paintings. Police are also examining the timing of the break-in, which coincided with the traditional procession of the Vara that drew thousands of people away from the museum neighborhood.
Sicilian Regional President Renato Schifani assured the public that both the alarm and video surveillance systems functioned properly during the intrusion. He stated that investigators are currently analyzing video recordings to identify those responsible.
Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina director Marisa Mercuri said she was shocked by the event. She described the theft as a major loss for the museum, the city of Messina, the local community, and the international art world.
Loss to Sicilian Heritage and Art History
The stolen artworks hold immense symbolic importance because they were the only pieces by Antonello da Messina preserved in his hometown. Mayor of Messina Federico Basile expressed deep outrage over the crime, calling it a tragic loss of cultural heritage tied to the history of Messina.
Fewer than 40 works by Antonello da Messina survive worldwide today. Born in Sicily in the 15th century, the painter died in 1479 and remains recognized as one of the major masters of the Italian Renaissance.
Art historians credit Antonello da Messina with introducing Flemish oil painting techniques to Italy, combining fine Northern European detail with Italian geometric perspective. Major collections of his surviving paintings are preserved in prominent international institutions, including the National Gallery in London and the Gemäldegalerie in Dresden.
