Four Renaissance paintings were stolen from a museum in Sicily
Four valuable 15th-century works of art were stolen from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina on the Italian island of Sicily. Among the stolen items are three panels from the “San Gregorio” polyptych and a double-sided panel depicting the “Madonna and Child.”
The theft occurred late Saturday evening.
According to the Italian Ministry of Culture, all four stolen works are attributed to the 15th-century Italian artist Antonello da Messina.
The following were taken from the museum:
- three panels from the “San Gregorio” polyptych;
- a double-sided panel depicting the “Madonna and Child.”
The polyptych originally consisted of at least five parts. The work was damaged in the 1908 earthquake, which is why the individual panels were stored separately.
The exact total value of the stolen works has not yet been disclosed. However, according to Christie’s auction house, the “Madonna and Child” was purchased in 2003 for more than $300,000.
Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli expressed regret over the theft and emphasized the special significance of the stolen works.
According to him, these works are of “extraordinary value to Italy’s cultural heritage.”
Messina Mayor Federico Basile called the theft a “horrific crime.”
He also stated that he was “deeply outraged” by the incident, particularly because the theft occurred during the city’s traditional celebrations in honor of the Virgin Mary.
“We hope that the perpetrators will be identified and the works of art returned home,” Basile wrote on social media.
Law enforcement officials are investigating the circumstances of the theft and searching for the perpetrators.
This was reported by CBS News.
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