Each painting costs at least $300,000: Four Renaissance paintings stolen from a museum in Italy

Four Renaissance paintings have been stolen from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina in Sicily. Among the stolen works are three panels of the polyptych “San Gregorio” and a double-sided panel of “Madonna and Child” by Antonello da Messina.

This is reported by CBS News .

The paintings were stolen late Saturday night. Italy’s culture ministry said the works were of “extraordinary value for the country’s cultural heritage.”

The stolen works by Antonello da Messina were painted in the 15th century. The San Gregorio polyptych originally consisted of at least 5 parts, but was damaged after the 1908 earthquake.

According to Christie’s auction, “Madonna and Child” was purchased in 2003 for more than $300,000.

Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli expressed regret over the theft and stressed the importance of the stolen works for Italy’s cultural heritage.

Messina Mayor Federico Basile called the theft a “horrible crime.”

“We hope that the perpetrators will be identified and the works of art will be returned home,” Basile wrote on social media.

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