Stolen Antonello da Messina Panels Strike Messina Museum Heist

Four wood panels by Antonello da Messina were stolen from Messina’s Regional Museum (MuMe) during Ferragosto, including three of the five surviving panels from the Polittico di San Gregorio and a small double‑sided Virgin and Child painting; two other panels were left abandoned on a wall outside. Prosecutors opened an investigation into possible illicit art‑market motives or a commission for an art dealer, with the works’ cultural and historical significance highlighted and the provenance of the Virgin and Child tied to the Wilhelm Soldan collection (authenticated to Antonello in 2003).