Caravaggio-Sgarbi Affair: The Ethics of 3D Copies and Digital Heritage
The exhibition 'Caravaggio, il Contemporaneo. In dialogo con Burri e Pasolini' at MART in Rovereto has sparked controversy over the creation of exact 3D copies of Caravaggio's 'Seppellimento di Santa Lucia'. The copies, produced by Madrid-based Factum Foundation in agreement with the FEC (Fondo Edifici di Culto) and the ISCR (Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro), are intended to replace the original during its travel to the Basilica di Santa Lucia extra moenia in Siracusa. Vittorio Sgarbi, the curator, stated that only the copy destined for Siracusa is an 'exact copy', while the one at MART is a photographic reproduction. However, Carlo Vulpio of Corriere della Sera reported that the two are indistinguishable. The debate raises questions about the legal status of exact copies under Italian cultural heritage law (Article 108), which currently treats them as simple photographs. The case highlights the need for updated regulations, as discussed at RavelloLab 2020. Critics like Luca Fiore of Il Foglio warn that such practices could set a precedent where curators use copies as their own works, blurring the line between original and reproduction.
Key facts
- MART in Rovereto hosted 'Caravaggio, il Contemporaneo. In dialogo con Burri e Pasolini'.
- Two exact 3D copies of Caravaggio's 'Seppellimento di Santa Lucia' were made by Factum Foundation.
- Copies commissioned by FEC and ISCR for restoration documentation and exhibition purposes.
- One copy will remain in Siracusa; the other was displayed at MART alongside the original.
- Vittorio Sgarbi claimed only the Siracusa copy is exact; the MART copy is a photographic reproduction.
- Carlo Vulpio of Corriere della Sera stated the two were indistinguishable at MART.
- Italian law (Article 108 of the Cultural Heritage Code) classifies exact copies as simple photographs.
- RavelloLab 2020 discussed the lag between technology and cultural heritage legislation.
- Luca Fiore of Il Foglio warned that copies could be used as curatorial works, undermining originality.
- The original will return to Basilica di Santa Lucia extra moenia in Siracusa by December 12.
- Exhibition runs until February 14, 2021.
- Sgarbi compared the original-copy dialogue to Giulio Paolini's 'Giovane che guarda Lorenzo Lotto'.
Entities
Artists
- Caravaggio
- Alberto Burri
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Gerhard Richter
- Giulio Paolini
Institutions
- MART (Museo di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea di Trento e Rovereto)
- FEC (Fondo Edifici di Culto)
- ISCR (Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione e il Restauro)
- Factum Foundation
- Basilica di Santa Lucia extra moenia
- Corriere della Sera
- Il Foglio
- Artribune
- RavelloLab
Locations
- Rovereto
- Italy
- Siracusa
- Mantua
- Madrid
- Spain