Sgarbi Accused of Misleading Promises in Caravaggio Loan Affair
Giovanni Di Lorenzo, president of DRACMA APS, publishes a critical response to Vittorio Sgarbi's defense regarding the loan of a Caravaggio painting. Di Lorenzo accuses Sgarbi of promising a costly display case (teca) without necessity, then retracting the commitment once the painting was secured. Sgarbi had initially pledged €350,000, later reduced to a €130,000 loan fee to the FEC, despite opposition from the Archdiocese of Syracuse. Di Lorenzo questions Sgarbi's promised exhibition of 20th-century masterpieces in Syracuse, doubting its feasibility and funding sources, and warns against potential costs falling on the Sicilian region. He references past controversies involving Sgarbi and curator Filippini, including the 'Ciclopica' exhibition closed by Carabinieri for authenticity issues. The article calls for transparency and criticizes Sgarbi's use of promises as leverage.
Key facts
- Sgarbi promised a costly display case for the Caravaggio painting without certainty of necessity.
- Initial pledge of €350,000 was later reduced to a €130,000 loan fee to the FEC.
- The Archdiocese of Syracuse gave a negative opinion on the loan.
- Sgarbi proposed an exhibition of 20th-century masterpieces to repay Syracuse.
- The exhibition venue is the Museo Bellomo, but funding sources are unclear.
- Estimated exhibition costs are around €120,000.
- Past exhibition 'Ciclopica' was closed by Carabinieri for authenticity issues.
- Di Lorenzo demands that the exhibition be free and fully funded by MART.
Entities
Artists
- Vittorio Sgarbi
- Giovanni Di Lorenzo
- Filippini
Institutions
- DRACMA APS
- FEC
- MART
- Provincia di Trento
- Arcidiocesi di Siracusa
- Museo Bellomo
- Assessorato Regionale ai Beni Culturali
- Nucleo Tutela Patrimonio Culturale dei Carabinieri
- Artribune
Locations
- Siracusa
- Italy
- Sicily