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

Four significant Renaissance artworks attributed to 15th-century painter Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Museo Regionale di Messina. The heist occurred on the night of August 15, a national holiday in Italy, during celebrations of the Virgin Mary. Local officials, the Italian culture minister, and the public have expressed shock, dismay, and sadness over the theft. The incident took place in the artist's hometown within the Sicilian city of Messina, as reported by LaPresse.