Four pieces of art by Antonello da Messina, a renowned 15th-century painter, were reported stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina, as confirmed by Italy’s culture minister on Sunday. Alessandro Giuli expressed shock and sorrow upon learning about the theft, emphasizing the significance of these stolen pieces, which were the only remaining works by the Renaissance artist in his hometown.

The theft occurred on a national holiday in Italy, with the museum director, Marisa Mercurio, stating that the incident took place just before 10 p.m. The stolen artworks included two of Antonello da Messina’s most prominent and widely recognized pieces, marking a significant loss for the museum, the city, and the art community.

Local councilor Enzo Caruso suggested that the recent acquisition of a Messina artwork by the Italian government for $15 million may have drawn attention to the museum. The stolen pieces were part of the altarpiece known as Polittico di San Gregorio, with three of the five remaining panels taken during the theft.

One of the stolen artworks was a two-sided painting depicting the Virgin with Child and a Franciscan monk on one side and Christ on the other. The painting was part of the Wilhelm Soldan collection and was acquired by the Sicilian Region in 2003. The theft follows the recent recovery of paintings by other renowned artists, including Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse.

Art-crime analyst Lynda Albertson highlighted the challenge of selling such recognizable works, suggesting that thieves may face difficulties in profiting from the stolen pieces. Antonello da Messina, born around 1430, trained in Naples and returned to Messina in 1457, where he continued his artistic endeavors until 1474.