Antonello da Messina works worth up to $92M stolen in Sicily

Antonello da Messina works worth up to $92 million were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina (MuMe) in Sicily during the Ferragosto holiday celebrations. Thieves bypassed alarm and security systems on Saturday evening, taking three of the five surviving panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, dating back to 1473, along with a double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and the dead Christ in Pietà. These works were removed from an armored display case, according to reports from LaPresse. All five panels of the polyptych were taken from their frames, though two were left behind near a wall during the escape. Art expert Alberto Fiz estimated the total value of the stolen pieces at between 70 million and 80 million euros, equivalent to approximately $81 million to $92 million. The stolen works are among the most important and well-known creations of the Renaissance master Antonello da Messina. Marisa Mercurio, director of the MuMe, expressed deep disappointment over the theft, describing the lost works as central to the region’s heritage. She stated that the theft occurred shortly before 10 p.m., despite functioning alarms and on-site guards. “These are not merely works by Antonello da Messina,” Mercurio told Sky TG24. “They are works that hold considerable significance in terms of our identity, as well as, of course, their artistic and cultural value.” Enzo Caruso, the top culture official in Messina, called the theft “more than a loss” and “a disaster.” He emphasized that the city has lost its connection to one of Europe’s greatest artists. “Messina without Antonello is deprived of the very essence of the greatest artist of the European Renaissance,” Caruso told Sky, urging for the swift recovery of the stolen works. He also pointed out that international interest in Antonello da Messina has increased following the acquisition of his devotional painting “Ecce Homo” by Italy’s Culture Ministry for $14.9 million through negotiations with Sotheby’s in New York earlier this year. Lynda Albertson, an art crime analyst and CEO of the ARCA art crimes research association, commented on the difficulty of selling such renowned works. “Stealing an Antonello may be far easier than selling one. If these are ordinary thieves, they will soon discover that, to their cost,” Albertson told La Repubblica. She noted that famous artworks often move from one criminal to another, acting as collateral for other illegal activities. The museum remained closed on Sunday as investigators collected evidence. Neither museum officials nor the Carabinieri could provide immediate comments. The theft took place during the peak of the Ferragosto holiday, which celebrates the Assumption of Mary and marks the height of the Italian summer holiday season. In Messina, the day featured a procession leading to prayers and a blessing in the main Piazza Duomo, coinciding with the time of the heist. This incident follows recent developments in art crime investigations. Just days prior, 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 euros. Five individuals were detained in connection with the March 22-23 theft from the Magnani Rocca Foundation in Parma province.