Mafia link feared in theft of Renaissance paintings from Sicilian museum

Weekend theft shocks Italy and revives memories of infamous 1969 disappearance of Caravaggio masterpiece from Palermo church

The theft ⁠of four paintings by Renaissance master Antonello da Messina may have involved organised crime and raised troubling questions about security at a museum in the Sicilian artist’s hometown, a local official said on Monday. Enzo Caruso, Messina’s councillor for culture, said it was difficult to understand how t

The theft of four paintings by Renaissance master Antonello da Messina may have involved organized crime and raised troubling questions about security at a museum in the Sicilian artist’s hometown, a local official said on Monday.

Mafia link feared in Sicilian grand master theft  Reuters

Three works by Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina, valued at up to €80 million, were stolen from a museum in Messina, Sicily. Police are investigating the theft, which comes days after Italian authorities recovered three stolen works by Cézanne, Renoir and Matisse.

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MILAN (AP) -- Thieves stole four works attributed to Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina worth millions of euros from the regional museum in the city of Messina in Sicily while crowds gathered across town for the traditional Assumption holiday celebrations, cultural officials and Italian media said Sunday. The thi

The paintings by Antonello da Messina were taken under cover of a huge religious festival that sees 100,000 people flock to the city of Messina.

The thieves bypassed alarm and security systems on Saturday evening at the MuMe museum to make off with three of the five surviving panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, dated to 1473.

Art expert Alberto Fiz estimated the value of the stolen works at 70 million euros ($81 million) to 80 million euros ($92 million).

They removed all five panels of the 'San Gregorio Polyptych' from their frame, but abandoned two behind a wall while fleeing. An art expert estimated the stolen works at €70 million to €80 million.

They removed all five panels of the 'San Gregorio Polyptych' from their frame, but abandoned two behind a wall while fleeing. An art expert estimated the stolen works at €70 million to €80 million.

Thieves steal 4 Renaissance artworks in a Sicilian museum heist during an Italian holiday  CNN

Art experts say the works are instantly recognisable and would be difficult to sell through reputable channels.

Thieves steal 4 Renaissance artworks in a Sicilian museum heist during an Italian holiday  AP News

Thieves have stolen four works attributed to Sicilian Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina from a regional museum in the city of Messina in Sicily

The priceless art was stolen on the Ferragosto holiday, marking the feast of the Assumption of Mary, during the peak of the Italian summer season

Four artworks by 15th century painter Antonello da Messina have been stolen from a museum overnight according to Italy's culture minister.

Four works were taken during public holiday, the day after Italian police recovered paintings by Cézanne, Renoir and Matisse Four of the most important works of art by the 15th-century Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen during a national holiday from a museum in the Sicilian port city of Messina. Thiev

The works were taken overnight without alarms being triggered, raising suspicion of a professional hit.

Thieves stole four works attributed to the Sicilian Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina from a regional museum in the Sicilian city of Messina on the Italian Ferragosto holiday, the news agency LaPresse reported Sunday.

Local officials have expressed their dismay and sadness at the theft which occurred during celebrations of the Virgin Mary.

The Italian government in March bought a devotional painting titled “Ecce Homo” by da Messina for $14.9 million.

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