Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Sicilian Museum
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A major art theft has been reported at the MuMe museum in Messina, Sicily, where four paintings believed to be by Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina were stolen during Assumption Day festivities. The missing works are estimated to be worth between €70 million and €80 million, making the case one of the most serious recent museum thefts reported in Italy.
Key Points
- The theft happened on Saturday night, August 15, shortly before 10pm, while crowds were gathering in Messina for traditional Assumption Day celebrations
- Thieves reportedly bypassed the MuMe museum’s alarm and security systems and removed four works linked to Antonello da Messina
- Three of the stolen pieces were from the surviving five panels of the 1473 San Gregorio Polyptych, while another was the double-sided Pieta panel taken from a bulletproof display case
- The thieves removed all five San Gregorio Polyptych panels from their frames but abandoned two of them behind a wall while fleeing
- Art expert Alberto Fiz estimated the stolen paintings’ value at about €70 million to €80 million, or roughly HK$633 million to HK$723 million
Why It Matters
Museum director Marisa Mercurio said the stolen works were among Antonello da Messina’s most important and best-known pieces, calling the loss a major blow to the museum, the city, the community and the art world. ARCA chief executive and art crime analyst Lynda Albertson said the paintings are so recognizable that any attempt to sell them through legitimate channels would face serious obstacles