And in the end, the report about Vittorio Sgarbi and the stolen paintings is broadcast on Report despite the warnings. The Undersecretary of State for Culture in the Meloni government tried to prevent this until the very end. But without results. And so the study of the painting “The Capture of Saint Peter” by Rutilio Manetti tells the story of the work stolen in 2013 from the castle of Buriasco in Piedmont. The thieves cut it out of the frame and replaced it with a large photo. Sgarbi instead claims to have found it around the house during work on Villa Maidalchina in Viterbo. He then exhibited it during an exhibition about Caravaggio and his students. The report by Manuele Bonaccorsi in collaboration with Thomas Mackinson of Fatto Quotidiano points out that there is a difference between the uncovered painting and the stolen one.
The torch
A torch appears at the top left of the work exhibited by Sgarbi in Lucca, which is not present in the original. “The catalog clearly states that it was in the Villa Maidalchina,” explains the Undersecretary of State. It is a noble residence that was purchased in 2000 by Rita Cavallini, Sgarbi's mother. “It was an abandoned property,” explains former owner Luigi Achilli. Who says they don't know about attics? However, according to Sgarbi, the plant was mentioned among the assets in a previous inventory. Some paintings of Saint Peter and Saint Catherine are mentioned there, but not Manetti's, according to the report. In Buriasco, in the Turin area, stands the castle of Margherita Buzio, who reported the theft. “They cut my canvas and scratched the frame,” he says. But they left a corner of the canvas. Possibly torn upon removal.
The picture
The photo was placed to prevent the owner from noticing it immediately. Buzio reports everything to the police because the Manetti is the only item stolen. According to the report, Sgarbi discovered the painting in earlier years after a lunch at the castle, which was then home to a restaurant. “In the weeks before the theft, a few people had asked to buy the castle, but they were interested in the painting.” I wanted to sell everything, not just the painting. Paolo Bocedi, who introduced himself, is president of the Italia Libera association. He was Sgarbi's employee until 2003. However, he maintained excellent relations with the Undersecretary of State. Bocedi remembers seeing the painting with Pasquale La Mura, Sgarbi's driver, to inquire about the painting and its possible sale.
The restorer Gianfranco Mingardi
The restorer Gianfranco Mingardi is the person who restored the painting on behalf of Sgarbi. He says he got it from Bocedi, who is also president of an anti-racket association in Lombardy. “For me it would be a nice piece of shit,” he says during the report. Mingardi confirms that the work exhibited in Lucca is the work restored in his studio. But he says he knows nothing about the torch. “With a candle you can no longer see it,” explains the restorer. He explains that he called Sgarbi to have a title document sent to him, but it never arrived. “It couldn’t have been stolen because it was in Maidalchina,” says Sgarbi. There are also some differences between the two paintings. And he says these are “coincidences.”
The police
The police finally go to the castle. They carefully examine the small part of the canvas that was attached to the painting during the theft. Sgarbi sends a warning to Report and Rai via certified email. He claims that the service “could undermine the presumption of innocence, a fair trial and the protection of the privacy of the accused.” The state is therefore obliged to adopt deterrent measures and restrictions on freedom of the press to protect these fundamental rights.” He claims in a subsequent note : “Conclusions are not a public service.” They are insinuations like those about gerontophilia and kleptomania that some rumors attribute to Davide di Pietro.”
Davide Di Pietro
“It is not information, but gossip coming from unreliable people and posing as witnesses.” Given the falsity of these fabrications, would Di Pietro have thought it appropriate to broadcast a program accusing him of such fabrications? The intimidation comes from Report. No “case” concerns me. Of many, I have never bought a stolen painting.” Davide Di Pietro is the advisor to the Rai employees on the board; he was elected in November. “There is no room for intimidation or warnings. The report will continue to be broadcast and citizens will be informed. “Without hesitation, the Rai Public Service stands united behind Sigfrido Ranucci and his working group,” he continued yesterday Twitter.
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