Sky Arte documentary investigates Caravaggio's stolen Nativity

Sky Arte will air the documentary 'Operazione Caravaggio' on Saturday, October 18, investigating the 1969 theft of Caravaggio's 'Nativity with Saints Lawrence and Francis of Assisi' from the Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo. Painted in 1609 during Caravaggio's stay in Sicily after escaping a Maltese prison, the canvas was cut from its frame by unidentified thieves on the night of October 17-18, 1969, and has never been recovered. Over five decades, theories have ranged from a commissioned theft to direct Mafia involvement, partly supported by dubious testimonies from justice collaborators in the 1990s. The documentary features Italian President Sergio Mattarella and art historian Claudio Strinati, and also covers a 'restituzione 2.0' project by a group of experts, initiated by Sky ten years ago, to digitally recreate the lost masterpiece.