Renaissance Masterpieces Stolen in Sicilian Museum Heist

Among the stolen works are three panels from the Polittico di San Gregorio altarpiece and a small double-sided painting. Investigators believe black market art thieves may have stolen the paintings to order.

The museum remained closed on Sunday as investigators gathered evidence. They examined how perpetrators managed to break into a security display box without triggering alerts.

The double-sided painting reportedly belonged to the Wilhelm Soldan collection before its sale to the Sicilian regional government in 2003. The theft unfolded during the Ferragosto holiday, marking the feast of the Assumption of Mary and the peak of Italy's summer holiday season.

This period also coincided with the Procession of the Vara, a large religious festival drawing 100,000 people to Messina. Thieves possibly capitalized on attention focused on the La Vara festival and the national holiday, exploiting the festive distraction.

Federico Basile stated, "A heritage belonging to all the people of Messina has been violated. Messina will not let its history be stolen."

The Messina mayor reportedly called the theft "deeply reprehensible," saying it was "even more painful" as it took place during traditional city celebrations in honor of the Virgin Mary.

Two other panels were reportedly abandoned outside the museum, adding a layer of mystery to the thieves' actions. The incident follows Italy's Culture Ministry acquiring Antonello da Messina's painting "Ecce Homo" for $14.9 million earlier this year.

Elsewhere, Parma police recently recovered stolen artworks by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse, collectively valued at approximately 10 million euros.