Vittorio Sgarbi defends remarks on foreign museum directors, clarifies his stance
Vittorio Sgarbi, Italy's Undersecretary of State for Culture, responds to criticism from Artribune regarding his comments about foreign directors of Italian museums. Sgarbi claims his remarks were jokes taken out of context. He expresses respect for foreign directors like Eike Schmidt (Uffizi), Sylvain Bellenger (Capodimonte), and Gabriel Zuchtriegel (Pompeii), noting they cannot be reappointed after two terms due to a law by former minister Dario Franceschini. Sgarbi argues that Italian directors have been unfairly disadvantaged by age limits, citing Paola Marini and Mauro Felicori who resigned early, while foreign directors like Stéphane Lissner and Bellenger were allowed to work beyond the standard retirement age. He defends the principle of equal treatment and suggests only the Uffizi and La Scala should be reserved for Italian directors as national symbols. Sgarbi lists numerous Italian directors he admires, including Nicola Spinosa, Antonio Natali, and Cristina Acidini. He also criticizes architectural interventions like Isozaki's loggia at the Uffizi and De Lucchi's setup for the Pietà Rondanini. The article includes a rebuttal from Artribune's director Massimiliano Tonelli, who defends the publication's editorial independence.
Key facts
- Vittorio Sgarbi is Italy's Undersecretary of State for Culture.
- Sgarbi's comments about foreign museum directors were made in a beachside salon to Stefano Zurlo.
- Sgarbi claims his remarks were jokes and not policy proposals.
- Eike Schmidt directs the Uffizi, Sylvain Bellenger directs Capodimonte, Gabriel Zuchtriegel directs Pompeii.
- A law by former minister Dario Franceschini limits museum directors to two terms.
- Sgarbi argues that Italian directors face age limits (67 years) while foreign directors like Bellenger and Lissner were allowed to work beyond that age.
- Paola Marini (Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia) and Mauro Felicori (Reggia di Caserta) resigned early due to age limits.
- Sgarbi suggests only the Uffizi and La Scala should be reserved for Italian directors.
- Sgarbi criticizes the Isozaki loggia at the Uffizi and Michele De Lucchi's setup for the Pietà Rondanini.
- Artribune's director Massimiliano Tonelli defends the publication's editorial independence and criticizes Sgarbi's remarks as xenophobic and sexist.
Entities
Artists
- Vittorio Sgarbi
- Eike Schmidt
- Sylvain Bellenger
- Gabriel Zuchtriegel
- Stefano Zurlo
- Gennaro Sangiuliano
- Dario Franceschini
- Massimiliano Tonelli
- Nicola Spinosa
- Antonio Natali
- Cristina Acidini
- Paola Marini
- Mauro Felicori
- Stéphane Lissner
- Carlo Fuortes
- Gaetano Manfredi
- Bernard Berenson
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini
- Mario Bellini
- Arata Isozaki
- Michele De Lucchi
- Carlo Scarpa
- Licisco Magagnato
- Bruno Molaioli
- Raffaello Causa
- Francesco Valcanover
- Pietro Zampetti
- Franco Russoli
- Carlo Bertelli
- Ugo Procacci
- Antonio Paolucci
- Noemi Gabrielli
- Bruno Passamani
- Caterina Bon
- Sandra Bandera
- Giuseppe Sala
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Ennio Flaiano
- Tito Balestra
- Gabriele Finaldi
- I. M. Pei
- Montaigne
- Winckelmann
- Goethe
- Stendhal
- Beppe Grillo
- Lucia Bergonzoni
- Gianmarco Mazzi
- Gabriele Maria Finaldi
- Pietro Tricarico
- Francesco Ercole
- Benito Mussolini
- Ieoh Ming Pei
- Daniele Jalla
Institutions
- Artribune
- Uffizi
- Capodimonte
- Brera
- Pompeii
- Louvre
- National Gallery of London
- Victoria Museum (Australia)
- Castelvecchio
- Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia
- Reggia di Caserta
- Teatro San Carlo
- La Scala
- Maxxi
- Emilia Romagna Region
- Pd (Democratic Party)
- Five Star Movement
- National Gallery London
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Castello Sforzesco
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Castello di Sammezzano
Locations
- Italy
- Rome
- Florence
- Naples
- Milan
- Venice
- Caserta
- Pompeii
- Paris
- London
- Australia
- Viareggio
- Madrid
- New York
- Reggello
- Firenze