Italy: Rare Antonello da Messina paintings stolen in museum heist

Four valuable Renaissance artworks have been stolen from a museum in Sicily, Italy. The theft has sparked an investigation into the missing pieces and raised apprehension about the security of Italy’s historic assets.

According to Italy’s Ministry of Culture, three panels of the San Gregorio Polypatch and a double-sided panel of The Madonna and Child all credited to Antonello da Messina originating from the 15th century were stolen from the Regional Interdisciplinary Messima.

Most importantly, the polyptych- a painting divided into separate sanctions, was composed of at least five varied sections and were devastated after an earthquake in 1908.

The painting of The Madonna and Child is registered in the Christie’s auctioneer website as having sold for more than $300,000 in 2003.

In light of the current incident, Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli expressed his misery at the theft and underlined that the stolen artwork carries exceptional cultural significance.

Similarly, the mayor of Messina called the theft an atrocious crime and said he was deeply outraged by the act, specifically because it happened during the city's conventional celebrations honoring the Virgin Mary.

Additionally, the theft just came after the Italian state brought a work called “Ecce Homo” for $15 million by Antonello da Messina at an auction in New York.