Italian museum rare painting theft
Four rare paintings by Italian artist Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Regional Museum in Messina, his hometown, during a Friday-Saturday night holiday, sparking widespread outrage. The stolen artworks include three pieces from a large work titled "Politico di San Giorgio," which is the only remaining piece of its kind in the city, along with a small double-sided painting depicting the Virgin Mary and the Child, and a monk. This latter piece was part of the Wilhelm Söldan collection and was sold to a Sicilian salon in 2003, the year it was attributed to da Messina. It is believed that the state's purchase of the artwork last February for $15 million may have made it a target for thieves, especially following the recent thefts of paintings by major French artists. The theft of these paintings is among the most prominent and shocking art thefts, occurring amidst a rising number of stolen rare works around the world.
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