Italy's Culture Minister Wants to Buy Leonardo Drawing; Sgarbi Calls It a Fake

Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano is pursuing the acquisition of a drawing attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, titled 'Studio per il martirio di San Sebastiano,' currently held by a private owner in France. The work, reportedly valued at around €10 million, was allegedly offered to the Louvre but the owner refused to sell. Sangiuliano stated that experts will determine its authenticity and value, and if confirmed, the ministry will explore all avenues, including private patrons, to secure the work for a major Italian public museum, possibly Milan's Pinacoteca di Brera or Palazzo Citterio. However, Undersecretary for Culture Vittorio Sgarbi vehemently disputes the attribution, calling the drawing mediocre and a fake. Sgarbi claims the Louvre never made an offer and that France's lack of interest is evident in their authorization of its export. He criticized Sangiuliano as incompetent and warned of reputational risk from a biased press. The drawing was found among the papers of the owner's deceased grandfather.