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Italian thieves steal €70-€80 million Antonello da Messina paintings

8/20/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Italian thieves stole four Antonello da Messina paintings from Messina’s Regional Museum.
The robbery occurred at about 9:50 p.m. (19:50 GMT) on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Thieves took three panels of the 1473 San Gregorio Polyptych and a double-sided devotional panel.
The four works are valued at €70-€80 million ($81-$92 million), according to expert Alberto Fiz.
Mayor Federico Basile called the theft deeply reprehensible.

History

Historical Context

On 21 August 1911, Italian glazier Vincenzo Peruggia walked out of the Louvre with Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, a theft that shocked France and made the portrait world-famous after its recovery in early 1914. The 1911 robbery generated worldwide publicity that turned the Mona Lisa into a global icon. On 15 August 2026, thieves stole four Antonello da Messina panels from Messina’s Regional Museum, echoing Peruggia’s audacious heist.

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Story summary

Italian thieves stole four Antonello da Messina paintings from Messina’s Regional Museum.
The robbery occurred at about 9:50 p.m. (19:50 GMT) on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Thieves took three panels of the 1473 San Gregorio Polyptych and a double-sided devotional panel.
The four works are valued at €70-€80 million ($81-$92 million), according to expert Alberto Fiz.
Mayor Federico Basile called the theft deeply reprehensible.

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