A sensational robbery has shocked the art world in Italy.
Four precious works by Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina have been stolen from the regional museum of Messina, Sicily, worth an estimated 70-80 million euros.
Among the missing works are three of the five surviving panels of the “Polyptych of San Gregorio”, made in 1473, as well as a double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and Christ.
According to Italian media, the perpetrators removed all five panels of the polyptych from their frames, but left two behind during their escape. Another work was taken from a security display case.
The incident occurred during the Ferragosto celebrations, while the museum still had guards and the alarm and security systems were active. Investigators have begun collecting evidence to determine how the perpetrators managed to enter the museum and leave with the works.
The robbery comes just days after Italian police announced the recovery of three stolen works by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse, with a combined value of around 10 million euros.