The Prosecutor's Office Macerata has officially closed the investigation into Vittorio Sgarbi, a well-known art critic and member of parliament, in the context of an investigation that sees him accused of laundering cultural assets, counterfeiting works of art and self-laundering. At the centre of the investigation, conducted by the Carabinieri Operational Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC), is the work “The Capture of St. Peter” by the Sienese painter Rutilio Manetti.
The investigations began with the statements of a former restorer from Brescia, linked to the Cavallini-Sgarbi family, made in another legal proceeding. These testimonies led to the discovery of new details on the controversial story linked to the painting, restored between 2015 and 2016 on behalf of Sgarbi.
According to investigators, the work could be the same one listed in the “Database of illegally stolen works of art”, the result of a theft that occurred on February 14, 2013 in a castle in Buriasco (Turin). In that case, the work was stolen by unknown persons from a private citizen.
The turning point in the investigation occurred during a search of Sgarbi's home, where the Carabinieri found the painting attributed to Manetti, as well as a 3D copy of the same work. Other items were also seized, including the frame and fragments of canvas that, according to the analysis, would be linked to the Buriasco theft.
From the comparisons carried out by the experts, it emerged that the restored painting, despite some modifications - such as the addition of a torch in the upper left part of the canvas - would correspond precisely to the stolen work. The elements collected during the investigation, including the fragments of canvas and the images recorded in the TPC database, seem to confirm its identity.
Article published on 25 October 2024 - 12:32
Interesting article, we need to wait for the final outcome of the investigation before drawing conclusions.