In a brazen heist that has sent shockwaves through Italy's cultural world, thieves made off with four masterpieces by the Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina from the regional museum in the Sicilian city of Messina. The theft occurred on the evening of 15 August, as crowds gathered across the city for the traditional Ferragosto holiday celebrations.
The stolen works include three of the five surviving panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, dated to 1473, as well as a double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and the dead Christ in Pietà. According to local media, the thieves removed all five panels of the polyptych from their frame but abandoned two behind a wall as they fled. The double-sided panel was taken from an armored display case.
Museum director Marisa Mercurio told ANSA that the theft took place just before 10 pm, while guards were on duty and the alarm and security systems were functioning. The audacity of the operation has raised questions about how the perpetrators managed to bypass the museum's defenses undetected.
A devastating loss for the city and the art world
Art expert Alberto Fiz estimates the value of the stolen works at between €70 million and €80 million. But for those in Messina, the loss is far more than financial. "We are devastated by what happened," Mercurio said. "They were two of Antonello da Messina's most important and best-known works. It is a tremendous loss for the museum, the city, the community and the art world."
Speaking to Sky TG24, she emphasized the deep cultural significance of the pieces: "These are not merely works by Antonello da Messina. They are works that hold considerable significance in terms of our identity, as well as, of course, their artistic and cultural value, because they are works by our very own Antonello da Messina."
Messina's top culture official, Enzo Caruso, described the theft as "more than a loss" and "a disaster." "Messina without Antonello is deprived of the very essence of the greatest artist of the European Renaissance," he told Sky, calling for the swift recovery of the stolen works. He noted that international interest in Antonello had intensified since Italy's Culture Ministry acquired his devotional painting "Ecce Homo" for $14.9 million through negotiations with Sotheby's in New York in early 2026.
The museum remained closed on Sunday while investigators gathered evidence. The Ferragosto holiday, which marks the feast of the Assumption of Mary, is celebrated at the height of the Italian summer season. In Messina, a procession was taking place in the main Piazza Duomo around the time of the heist, providing a convenient distraction.
Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson said the stolen works are instantly recognizable, which would make it difficult to sell them through legitimate channels. The pieces are so well-known that any attempt to auction them privately would likely attract immediate attention from authorities and the art market.
The theft comes just days after police in the northern Italian city of Parma announced the recovery of three stolen artworks by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse, valued at about €10 million. Five people have been detained in connection with that theft from the Magnani Rocca Foundation. The timing has prompted speculation about a possible connection, though investigators have not confirmed any link.
For now, the focus remains on finding the stolen Antonello works and bringing those responsible to justice. As Caruso put it, the loss is not just for Messina but for Europe's shared cultural heritage. The Renaissance master's works are a testament to the artistic brilliance that flourished across the continent, and their disappearance is a blow to all who value that legacy.
