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Italian Culture Minister Probed Over Stolen Painting

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An Italian junior culture minister has been accused of possessing and exhibiting a stolen 17th Century painting, which he denies.

The latest allegations to hit a member of Italy’s government centre on Vittorio Sgarbi, a renowned art critic.

Mr Sgarbi has been put under investigation for laundering stolen goods after including the painting in a 2021 exhibition.

“The Capture of Saint Peter” was reported stolen in 2013.

The painting by Rutilio Manetti – a follower of the Baroque master Caravaggio – used to be displayed in a castle in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.

Mr Sgarbi, who is also a TV personality known for his foul language and several convictions for slander, is also accused of altering the painting by adding a candle to the top corner, allegedly to conceal its provenance.

The politician says he found the work while restoring a villa bought by his mother more than twenty years ago. He claims the painting is the original, while the one stolen in 2013 was a copy.

The allegations surfaced in an investigation by the programme ‘Report’ on the Italian TV broadcaster Rai. The owner of the castle who reported the painting stolen told journalists that the canvas was cut out of the frame in 2013. She also said that a friend of Mr Sgarbi had earlier visited the property and expressed an interest in buying the work.

Click to read more: Italian culture minister probed over stolen painting

 

Source: BBC

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