Italian Culture Secretary Faces Accusations of Possessing Stolen Painting
Italy's Minister of Culture official, art connoisseur Vittorio Sgarbi, is accused of owning a painting stolen in 2013. The artwork in question is "The Capture of Saint Peter" (La Cattura di San Pietro) by 16th-century artist Rutilio Manetti. The painting was taken from Margherita Buzio's castle in Piedmont and resurfaced at an exhibition organized by Sgarbi in 2021. The only difference noted was a candle in the top left corner, absent in the original, Euronews reports.
This discrepancy drew attention and triggered an investigation by Italian authorities and the media. The prosecutor is now examining whether Sgarbi added the candle himself to obscure the painting's origin.
Italian journalists discovered that Sgarbi's friend reportedly visited Buzio's castle weeks before the theft to inquire about purchasing the artwork. Following this, the painting disappeared, cut from its frame, with a photograph replacing it.
They also identified a potential restorer of the painting, who claimed to have been asked to add the candle to make it less recognizable. The restorer stated recognizing the painting he worked on in a photo from Sgarbi's 2021 exhibition.
Vittorio Sgarbi vehemently denies the accusations, insisting he found the painting in an old estate his mother bought decades before the castle theft. He maintains that his painting is the original, while the stolen one is a copy.
"It's not the same painting! Moreover, none of those accusing me have seen the painting. They cannot write accusatory articles without seeing the works. I've asked an expert to verify my painting, and I intend to prove that mine is the original, with all elements, including the candle, being part of the artwork," stated Vittorio Sgarbi.
It's worth noting that Vittorio Sgarbi is not only a politician but also a controversial TV presenter. Last year, he gained notoriety for a live altercation with writer Giampiero Mughini. The year before, he was expelled from parliament for insulting fellow deputies and refusing to leave voluntarily.
Recent scandals have intensified calls for Vittorio Sgarbi to resign, a move the politician vehemently rejects.