Antonello da Messina Masterpieces Stolen in Sicilian Museum Heist

Four of the most significant works by the 15th-century Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen from the Museo Regionale in the Sicilian port city of Messina during the national holiday on August 15, according to the Guardian. The thieves took three panels from his Polittico di San Gregorio, a polyptych that represents part of the only surviving works by the painter still held in his hometown.

The theft occurred overnight without triggering alarms, raising the suspicion of a professional operation, the BBC reported. Local officials expressed dismay and sadness, describing the loss as a wound to the historical memory and cultural identity of the city, according to CBS News World.

The works were taken as the city held a religious celebration, the New York Times reported. The Museo Regionale, which houses the pieces, is a cornerstone of Sicilian cultural heritage, and the loss has sent shockwaves through the island's art community.