Priceless art stolen in museum heist months after Italy raised painter’s profile
- Thieves bypassed security systems at the MuMe regional museum in Messina, Sicily, to steal four priceless artworks attributed to Sicilian Renaissance master Antonello da Messina during the peak Italian summer holiday of Ferragosto.
- The stolen pieces include three panels from the 1473 San Gregorio Polyptych and a double-sided panel featuring the Virgin Mary and dead Christ in Pietà, which was taken from an armored case shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday.
- International interest in da Messina intensified after Italy’s Culture Ministry acquired Antonello’s devotional painting “Ecce Homo” for $14.9 million through negotiations with Sotheby’s in New York earlier this year.
- Museum director Marisa Mercurio expressed devastation over the heist, describing the loss of two of Antonello da Messina’s most important and best-known creations as a major blow to the museum, the city, and the international art community.
- Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson noted that the extreme fame and recognizable nature of the pieces render them virtually impossible to sell through reputable channels, suggesting they are likely to be used as collateral among criminals.
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