The Guardian

Renaissance paintings by Antonello da Messina stolen from Sicilian museum

Sky News

Four Renaissance paintings by Antonello da Messina stolen on Italian national holiday

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BBC News

Four 'extraordinary' Renaissance paintings stolen from Italian museum

Reuters

Four Antonello da Messina works stolen in Renaissance painter's hometown

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Italiantimes

Viking Resistance

The Washington Post

Thieves steal 4 Renaissance artworks in Sicilian museum heist on Italian holiday

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Renaissance paintings stolen from Italian museum

A good  and bad  week for Italy's art police and museum security

PBS NewsHour

Thieves steal 4 Renaissance artworks in a Sicilian museum heist during an Italian holiday

The New York Times

Thieves Steal Four Renaissance Paintings From Italian Museum in Brazen Heist

AP News

New York Post

Four Renaissance paintings of extraordinary value swiped from museum in brazen art heist

Italy: Thieves steal key Renaissance paintings in Sicily

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4 Renaissance paintings stolen from museum in Italy

The Telegraph

Renaissance Artworks Stolen From Painters Hometown Museum

Four Renaissance paintings by the Italian painter Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in the artist's hometown in Sicily over the weekend.

Four Renaissance paintings by the Italian painter Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in the artist's hometown in Sicily over the weekend.

Thieves broke into the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina, also known as MuMe, just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, museum director Marisa Mercurio told the media. It came as the Sicilian port city marked the religious holiday of La Vara that coincides with the Italian holiday of Ferragosto.

Thieves broke into the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina, also known as MuMe, just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, museum director Marisa Mercurio told the media. It came as the Sicilian port city marked the religious holiday of La Vara that coincides with the Italian holiday of Ferragosto.

Having bypassed the museum's security systems and breached a security display box, the thieves removed five panels of an alterpiece known as the Polittico di San Gregorio. However, two of the panels were left just outside the museum.

Having bypassed the museum's security systems and breached a security display box, the thieves removed five panels of an alterpiece known as the Polittico di San Gregorio. However, two of the panels were left just outside the museum.

The fourth work stolen from a security display was a small, two-sided painting depicting baby Jesus blessing a Franciscan monk on one side, and Jesus in the other.

The fourth work stolen from a security display was a small, two-sided painting depicting baby Jesus blessing a Franciscan monk on one side, and Jesus in the other.

Enzo Caruso, Messina's culture minister, suggested that the works of Antonello could have enterred the thieves' radar after the Italian government paid nearly $15 million for another work by the artist earlier in the year.

Enzo Caruso, Messina's culture minister, suggested that the works of Antonello could have enterred the thieves' radar after the Italian government paid nearly $15 million for another work by the artist earlier in the year.

The theft came a day after Italian police in the northen city of Parma announced the recovery of three paintings stolen in March: one by Paul Cézanne, another by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and the third by Henri Matisse.

The theft came a day after Italian police in the northen city of Parma announced the recovery of three paintings stolen in March: one by Paul Cézanne, another by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and the third by Henri Matisse.

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This theft is a terrible and enormous loss. Not only in terms of monetary value, but because the works are of enormous cultural, artistic and symbolic importance. It is hoped they can be recovered as soon as possible.

This theft is a terrible and enormous loss. Not only in terms of monetary value, but because the works are of enormous cultural, artistic and symbolic importance. It is hoped they can be recovered as soon as possible.

This is the latest in a string of high-profile heists in European museums this year, raising questions about whether the institutions are taking adequate measures to protect the valuable and culturally important artworks in their possession.

This is the latest in a string of high-profile heists in European museums this year, raising questions about whether the institutions are taking adequate measures to protect the valuable and culturally important artworks in their possession.

While the theft may seem difficult to pull off, the real challenge for thieves will be trying to unload the artworks. The works of Antonello are immediately recognizable and no reputable buyer would take the risk to acquire them. Most likely, they will be used as collateral between criminal networks.

While the theft may seem difficult to pull off, the real challenge for thieves will be trying to unload the artworks. The works of Antonello are immediately recognizable and no reputable buyer would take the risk to acquire them. Most likely, they will be used as collateral between criminal networks.

Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Italian Museum

Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Italian Museum

Italy

Crime

Robberies and thefts

Culture

This is the latest in a string of high-profile heists in European museums this year, raising questions about whether the institutions are taking adequate measures to protect the artworks in their possession, especially considering how quickly some of these thefts are being pulled off.

This is the latest in a string of high-profile heists in European museums this year, raising questions about whether the institutions are taking adequate measures to protect the artworks in their possession, especially considering how quickly some of these thefts are being pulled off.

Experts assess that these thieves likely conducted a recce of the museum in disguise to get prior knowledge of its security, or may have even had inside knowledge of such systems. Institutions are putting measures in place, but career criminals are conducting heists so intricate that masterpieces can disappear in minutes.

Experts assess that these thieves likely conducted a recce of the museum in disguise to get prior knowledge of its security, or may have even had inside knowledge of such systems. Institutions are putting measures in place, but career criminals are conducting heists so intricate that masterpieces can disappear in minutes.

Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Italian Museum

Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Italian Museum

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Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Italian Museum

Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen From Italian Museum

The Spin

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