Four Renaissance works stolen from MuMe museum in Messina

Four Renaissance artworks were stolen yesterday from the MuMe museum in Messina, on the island of Sicily, authorities reported. Among the pieces taken were three panels from the Polyptych of San Gregorio (1473) by the Sicilian painter Antonello da Messina and a double-sided work titled "Lamentation" depicting the Virgin and the dead Christ.

The thieves removed all five panels from the polyptych’s frame, but two of those panels were left behind during their escape, according to investigators' preliminary accounts — meaning three panels were actually taken from the altarpiece. The double-sided "Lamentation" was also seized in the same operation.

Valuation and significance

Experts who examined the pilfered pieces estimate the combined value of the stolen artworks at between 70 and 80 million euros. Antonello da Messina’s works are considered among the most important of the Renaissance produced in Sicily, making the loss particularly significant for the museum’s collection.

Details about the perpetrators, their method of entry and the exact time of the theft have not been made public. MuMe and local authorities have not released further information about the investigation at this stage.

The stolen panels and the double-sided work are unique, historically important paintings; museums and law-enforcement agencies typically coordinate to trace objects of this rarity when they disappear from public collections. It is expected that further inquiries will follow as officials seek to recover the items.

Photo: AP