The Art of Theft: Italy's Museum Heists Expose a Larger Problem The theft of four Renaissance artworks from the MuMe regional museum in Messina is a devastating blow to the art world.
These irreplaceable masterpieces are attributed to Antonello da Messina, a Sicilian painter who has gained international recognition in recent years. The heist occurred on Saturday evening, just before 10 p. m.
, when thieves bypassed alarm and security systems to steal three panels from the San Gregorio Polyptych, dated from 1473. Also stolen was the double sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and dead Christ in Pietà.