Sicilian museum heist: Four Antonello da Messina artworks worth $92 million stolen in Renaissance painter's hometown

In the city of Messina, Sicily, four art pieces attributed to Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina were stolen from the regional museum on Saturday night, during a celebration for the Assumption Day. The museum, known as Museo Regionale di Messina, was targeted while it was busy with festivities, according to Messina Mayor Federico Basile.

The thieves bypassed security systems and alarms, making off with three panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych and a double-sided panel of the Virgin Mary and the dead Christ in Pietà. Art experts have estimated the stolen works' value between 70 million euros ($81 million) and 80 million euros ($92 million). Director Marisa Mercurio expressed devastation over the loss, calling the stolen artworks central to the region's heritage and identity.

Messina's top culture official, Enzo Caruso, described the theft as "a disaster" and called for the swift recovery of the stolen pieces. Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson warned that the stolen works are instantly recognizable, making it difficult for criminals to sell them through legitimate channels. The theft occurred during the Ferragosto holiday, an Italian summer festival marked by a procession and prayers in the main Piazza Duomo.