Vittorio Sgarbi Defends Mart Appointment Against Critic Giorgio Bonomi

Key facts

• Vittorio Sgarbi responds to Giorgio Bonomi's criticism of his nomination as Mart president.
• Sgarbi claims Bonomi's attacks stem from envy and ignorance of his work.
• Sgarbi cites unjust legal cases like Tortora and Braibati to defend his own convictions.
• Sgarbi lists his career: deputy, European MP, undersecretary for cultural heritage, mayor of Sanseverino, Salemi, Sutri, culture assessor in Milan, superintendent in Venice.
• He was director of the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and president of the Canova Foundation.
• Sgarbi reopened Palazzo Grimani in Venice, increasing visitors from 5 to 800 daily.
• He opened Museo di Palazzo Doebbing in Sutri, attracting 11,000 visitors from 6,000 residents.
• Sgarbi increased Palazzo Reale in Milan from 350,000 to over 1 million visitors.
• He created the Museo della Mafia in Salemi for €63,000, inaugurated by Napolitano.
• Sgarbi invites Bonomi to his Leonardo show at Teatro Manzoni in Milan (March 19-24).
• He plans a Culture-Agriculture event at Mart with Oscar Farinetti.
• Sgarbi emphasizes his Mart role is unpaid and focused on projects.
• He mentions his collection at Fondazione Cavallini-Sgarbi and plans to exhibit at Castel Caldes.
• Sgarbi wrote a long essay on Benedetto Croce in 1979 and won the Premio Croce in 2017.
• He claims to have published about 200 books and hundreds of catalogs.