Thieves steal 4 Renaissance artworks in Sicilian museum heist on Italian holiday

In a heist that occurred during the Italian Ferragosto holiday, thieves broke into the MuMe regional museum in Messina, Sicily and stole four artworks attributed to the Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina. The museum had recently been acquired by the Italian government for the notable "Ecce Homo" painting. The works taken included three of the five panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, dated 1473, and a double-sided panel of the Virgin Mary and dead Christ in Pietà.

Museum director Marisa Mercurio expressed deep regret over the loss, which included two of the artist's most prominent and recognizable works. Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson noted that such famous pieces are difficult to sell through legitimate channels, making the theft a significant loss for both the museum and the art world.

The museum was under investigation, but no comment could be provided by museum officials or the Carabinieri at the time.