Enlarge image
Vittorio Sgarbi: The judiciary has been investigating the right-wing politician for several weeks for the theft of cultural property
Photo: Stefano Porta/dpa
After affairs surrounding works of art from his private collection, the Italian State Secretary for Culture Vittorio Sgarbi has now announced his resignation. The 71-year-old announced on Friday that he was leaving the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The studied art historian is particularly suspected of having illegally acquired a painting from the 17th century. There are also allegations that he paid dearly for lectures when he was already in government.
The judiciary has been investigating the right-wing politician for several weeks for the theft of cultural property. This is about the painting “The Capture of Saint Peter” by the Italian painter Rutilio Manetti (1571-1639), which was stolen from a castle in 2013 and then resurfaced at an exhibition in Tuscany as the alleged property of Sgarbi. Investigations are also underway into the illegal export of a painting by the French painter Valentin de Boulogne (1591-1632). In this case he is said to have tried to sell the picture abroad.
lph/dpa