Four Renaissance paintings by Antonello da Messina were stolen from the MuMe Regional Interdisciplinary Museum in Messina, Sicily, at about 9:50 p.m. local time on August 16, the day before the Ferragosto holiday.

Antonello da Messina, active in the mid‑15th century, is considered a leading figure of the early Italian Renaissance. His surviving works are few, and the four pieces taken represent some of the rare examples that remain.

Police said the thieves cut a metal fence on Viale Annunziata, forced open a side door, entered the gallery halls and broke an armoured glass case to remove a double‑sided tempera panel dated 1465‑1474 and three sections of the San Gregorio Polyptych, a multi‑panel altarpiece commissioned in 1473. Two additional panels were found on the ground near the museum.

The works are estimated to be worth up to €80 million, according to Italian media. Museum director Marisa Mercurio told ANSA that the loss was significant.

Culture councillor Enzo Caruso said the incident was unusual for Messina. Lynda Albertson, chief executive of the ARCA art crimes research association, said high‑profile Antonello works are difficult to sell and often stay within criminal networks for long periods.

The theft follows a separate case in Parma earlier in the week, where police recovered three paintings by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse valued at roughly $11.5 million.

Authorities have opened an investigation and have not released details about suspects. The recovery of the paintings remains pending.