Renaissance Art Vanishes from Messina Museum

Four significant artworks by the renowned 15th-century painter Antonello da Messina were stolen overnight from the Museo Regionale di Messina. The theft represents a considerable loss, as these pieces are among the only surviving works by the artist to have remained in his native city. The stolen items include three panels from the altarpiece known as Polittico di San Gregorio, originally destined for a local monastery. Additionally, a small, two-sided painting acquired by the Sicilian Region in 2003 was also taken from a secure display.

The perpetrators gained access to the museum during the night of August 15, coinciding with a national holiday in Italy and the height of the summer tourist season. The Polittico di San Gregorio altarpiece was particularly important, being the only work by the Sicilian painter that had never left his hometown before this incident. The theft occurred shortly after Italian police had recovered paintings by French masters that were stolen earlier in the year.

Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, was a pivotal figure in Renaissance art, known for his unique style influenced by Northern European artists. He trained in Naples before returning to Messina in 1457, where he continued to work for many years. The museum has not provided further details on the ongoing investigation.