Italian Culture Minister Vittorio Sgarbi Under Investigation for Alleged Art Theft

Sgarbi Accused of Altering Stolen 17th-Century Painting, Denies Allegations Amid Calls for Resignation

Vittorio Sgarbi, the junior minister for cultural heritage in Italy, is under investigation for allegedly acquiring and altering a stolen 17th-century artwork, 'The Capture of Saint Peter' by Rutilio Manetti.
Sgarbi is accused of adding a torch to the painting to make it less identifiable and claims he found the artwork in a villa near Rome, asserting that the stolen artwork is a 19th-century copy.
Art experts argue that the painting in Sgarbi's possession matches the stolen one from Buriasco Castle in 2013, except for the added torch.
Opposition parties have called for Sgarbi's resignation, stating it is inappropriate for a cultural heritage minister to be implicated in the theft and alteration of national cultural assets.
Sgarbi, a high-profile art critic, collector, and television personality, denies the allegations and has no intention of resigning.