Theft of Antonello Masterpieces Wounds Messina's Heritage

Four of the most important works by the 15th-century Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen from a museum in the Sicilian port city of Messina during a national holiday, according to the Guardian. The theft has been described as a wound to the historical memory and cultural identity of the city.

The value of the stolen works is estimated at up to €80 million, as reported by France 24. The heist comes days after Italian authorities recovered three stolen works by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse, highlighting the persistent threat posed by art thieves to the country's vast cultural patrimony.