Four masterpieces by Antonello da Messina stolen from Sicilian museum

Four important works by 15th-century Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Regional Museum of Messina during the Ferragosto holiday.

By El Medio Oriente

August 16, 2026

Five wooden panels with old Renaissance religious paintings, with deteriorated gold backgrounds and figures of saints and religious figures. — Italian Renaissance masterpieces on display in a museum, showing the characteristic style of the 15th century with gold backgrounds and religious figures. The Sicilian museum suffered the theft of four important works by Antonello da Messina during the Ferragosto celebrations. (The Guardian — Art & Design)

1 min read

Text size

Four of the most important works by 15th-century Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Regional Museum of Messina, or MuMe, in the Sicilian port city of Messina. The thieves accessed the museum on Saturday night, possibly taking advantage of the attention focused on La Vara, an enormous religious festival that takes place in the city on 15 August, when Italy celebrates the national Ferragosto holiday.

The theft was described as a wound to the historical memory and cultural identity of the city of Messina.