Four Antonello da Messina masterpieces stolen from Sicilian museum

Four of the most important surviving works by the 15th-century Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen overnight from the Museo Regionale in the Sicilian port city of Messina, according to the Guardian. The theft occurred during Italy's Ferragosto national holiday on August 15, as the city held religious celebrations.

The thieves took three panels from the Polittico di San Gregorio, a polyptych altarpiece, along with a fourth work, depriving Messina of part of the only works by the painter still held in his hometown, France 24 reported. The BBC noted the works were taken without alarms being triggered, raising suspicion of a professionally executed operation.