Police on Friday seized a painting
allegedly stolen and then allegedly altered by Culture
Undersecretary and art critic Vittorio Sgarbi in a probe into
suspected 'self-laundering' by the politician and polemicist.
Italy's art cops, the Carabinieri of the Heritage Protection
Unit seized the painting attributed to Rutilio Manetti, a 17th
century Sienese artist, 'The Capture of St. Peter', in the
possession of Sgarbi, who is under investigation for laundering
cultural assets having allegedly had a torch painted into the
top of the picture to allegedly conceal the theft.
The paramilitary police searched three homes belonging to the
art critic, who rejects all charges and voluntarily handed over
the painting.
The seizure was a formality, a so-called 'necessary act' to
carry out all the investigations on the painting.
Sgarbi, a fixture on Italian TV and a several-terms mayor in art
towns around Italy, has threatened to sue anyone repeating the
possible charges against him.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
