Italian authorities have launched an investigation into the theft of four Renaissance artworks from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina in Sicily. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli confirmed that the stolen items include three panels from the 1473 Polyptych of San Gregorio and a double-sided panel depicting the Madonna with Child and Christ in Pietà, all attributed to the 15th-century master Antonello da Messina.

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday night, with museum director Marisa Mercurio placing the time of the theft at approximately 21:50 local time. Investigators are currently examining how the perpetrators bypassed the museum's alarm systems. According to the Italian news agency Ansa, initial theories suggest the theft may have been a targeted operation for the black market, noting that the Madonna and Christ in Pietà was extracted from a secure display case.

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The loss has drawn sharp condemnation from local officials. Messina Mayor Federico Basile described the event as a "heinous criminal act" and a violation of the city's cultural heritage. The stolen works, which are painted on wooden panels, represent a significant portion of the surviving output of Messina-born artist Antonello da Messina, a key figure of the early Renaissance.

This theft follows a series of high-profile museum heists across Europe, including the recent recovery of three paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse in Italy and a major jewelry theft at the Louvre in Paris. Police are continuing their inquiries into the identity of the thieves and the current location of the missing panels.

Source: BBC News