Four Renaissance Paintings Stolen from a Museum in Sicily

From a museum on the Italian island of Sicily, four Renaissance-era paintings were stolen. This is reported by CBS News.

According to reports, the paintings of “exceptional value,” dated to the Renaissance, were stolen from the museum late on Saturday.

According to Italy's Ministry of Culture, three panels from the polyptych “San Gregorio” and a two-sided panel depicting the “Madonna and Child,” painted in the 15th century by Italian artist Antonello da Messina, were stolen from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina.

The polyptych, a painting divided into multiple panels, originally consisted of at least five different parts and was damaged after the earthquake 1908 years.

According to Christie’s auction house website, the painting “Madonna and Child” was purchased for over 300 thousand dollars in 2003 year.

Culture Minister Alessandra Buzzi expressed regret over the theft and noted that these works have “extraordinary value for Italy’s cultural heritage.”

Messina Mayor Federico Basile called the theft a “horrendous crime” and said he was “deeply outraged” by the act, particularly because it occurred during traditional city celebrations in honor of the Virgin Mary.

“We hope those responsible will be identified and the artworks returned home,” Basile wrote on social media.