Posted 2/2/2024, 8:30:00 PM
Italian Minister Resigns Amid Investigation Into Alleged Art Theft and Forgery
- Italian junior culture minister Vittorio Sgarbi resigned amid investigation into alleged art theft and laundering of a 17th century painting
- Sgarbi, an art critic, accused of stealing "The Capture of Saint Peter" painting in 2013 and altering it by adding a candle
- Painting originally displayed in a castle before reported stolen; Sgarbi says he found it restoring his mother's villa 20+ years ago
- Report TV show alleged one of Sgarbi's friends showed interest in buying the painting, then later transferred a damaged version to a restorer
- Sgarbi also facing investigation over alleged illegal export of a €5 million Valentine de Boulogne painting he says is a copy