Thieves broke into the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina (MuMe) in Sicily during the evening of August 15, 2026, and stole four artworks attributed to Antonello da Messina, a 15th-century Renaissance painter born in Messina [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. The theft occurred around 9:50 p.m., just before 10 p.m., exploiting distractions from Italy’s Ferragosto holiday and the La Vara religious procession [2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Among the stolen works were three of the five surviving wooden panels from the 1473 San Gregorio Polyptych altarpiece, the only remaining Antonello work in his hometown after the monastery it belonged to was destroyed in the 1908 earthquake [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Two other panels were removed from the frame during the robbery but abandoned behind a wall near the museum during the thieves’ escape [3, 4].
A small, precious, double-sided tempera panel was also taken from a secure armored display case. It depicts the Virgin and Child with a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ in Pietà on the other. This panel had belonged to the Wilhelm Soldan collection and was acquired by the Sicilian regional government in 2003 through Christie’s auction after its attribution to Antonello da Messina [1, 2, 4, 5, 6].
The four stolen works are estimated to be worth between 70 million and 80 million euros (approximately $81 million to $93 million) [3, 4]. Museum director Marisa Mercurio called the theft a “tremendous loss for the museum, the city, the community and the art world,” describing the stolen pieces as two of Antonello da Messina's most important and best-known works [3, 4, 5].
Italian police and Carabinieri are investigating. They have obtained recordings and security data, with reports indicating the museum’s alarm and video systems were functioning normally [1, 6]. The regional government has launched an internal investigation into potential security failures [6].
The theft follows the recent recovery by Italian police of three stolen French master paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse earlier in the same week [1, 2, 5]. Sicilian regional President Renato Schifani condemned the robbery as an “intolerable affront” and said priorities include recovering the paintings and bringing those responsible to justice [6]. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said the stolen works are of “extraordinary value for our cultural heritage” [6].
Antonello da Messina, born around 1430 in Messina and trained in Naples, is renowned as a leading early Renaissance artist known for religious works and portraits [1, 2, 6]. The investigation into the theft is ongoing.
