Vatican art rights sale sparks fraud allegations and counterclaims

A legal dispute has erupted over the licensing rights to artworks from the Vatican Museums, involving New York lawyer Sarah Rose Speno, Italian company Scripta Maneant, and US-based Museum Masters International. Speno, representing Museum Masters, contacted Scripta Maneant—which holds licensing rights to Vatican artworks—and was allegedly asked for €550,000, part of which was purportedly destined for the Vatican via its vice-director Monsignor Paolo Nicolini. Suspicious, Speno sued Paolini and accused Scripta Maneant of not holding the rights. The Vatican has not commented beyond a meeting between the Pope and Nicolini. Scripta Maneant denies the allegations, stating it never claimed to be able to sell images or licenses to anyone, and that discussions with Museum Masters were for an immersive Renaissance exhibition involving only a small portion of Vatican artworks. Under the proposed agreement, Scripta Maneant would produce videos for use under strict licensing terms and provide up to 40 exhibitions on Renaissance masters across 40 museums in Canada, the United States, and Mexico for €550,000. Museum Masters has distanced itself from Speno's actions, asserting she acted alone and may have attempted to sell rights that were only guaranteed to them to an unknown third party. Speno has not commented further.