Four Renaissance artworks by Antonello da Messina are stolen from the Museo Regionale in Messina, Sicily, overnight on 15 August. Reporting from multiple outlets says the theft involves four works, including three panels from his Polittico di San Gregorio. Authorities investigate how the paintings were removed.
Several outlets report the burglary happens during a major religious celebration in Messina, specifically a procession held in connection with the Feast of the Assumption (often referred to as La Vara). Other coverage emphasizes that the works are key examples of Messina’s holdings of Antonello da Messina, with some panels considered among the only remaining works still kept in his hometown. One outlet adds that thieves take only paintings that were never permanently removed from Messina.
While all accounts describe a fast operation, some focus more on the likely security failure and the short time window—reports cite removal in minutes without apparent difficulty. Others mention concerns that organised crime could be involved, and note that this theft follows recent Italian efforts to recover stolen modern artworks recovered by authorities in prior days. Estimates of the works’ value vary by outlet, with figures reported around €70 million to €80 million (and a higher figure in dollars by at least one source).
