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

A group of thieves broke into a regional museum in Messina, Sicily on the Italian holiday of Ferragosto and stole four artworks attributed to Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina, according to reports from LaPresse on August 16, 2026. The museum, known as MuMe, houses three of the five remaining panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, dating back to 1473, as well as the double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and the dead Christ in Pietà.

Both pieces were removed from an armored display case and bypassed the museum's alarm and security systems. Director Marisa Mercurio expressed devastation over the loss, stating that the stolen works were two of the most important and well-known paintings by Antonello da Messina. The theft took place just before 10 p.m. on August 15.

Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson noted that the stolen works are easily recognizable, making it difficult for any potential buyers to verify their authenticity, and suggested that the theft will likely hinder any attempts to sell them legitimately. Albertson also warned that such famous artworks often change hands multiple times before they eventually end up being used as collateral for other criminal activities.