SARONNO – “I live off my work, I don’t need to go steal paintings. Vittorio (Sgarbi, ed.) certainly buys paintings, he doesn’t steal them. We filed a complaint asking for damages as well.” This is the immediate comment of Paolo Bocedi from Saronno regarding the investigation by Report, which aired on Sunday, December 17th, about the painting “Cattura di San Pietro” by Rutilio Manetti. According to Report, the canvas exhibited by Sgarbi would have been stolen in 2013 from the Buriasco castle, in Piedmont. An accusation that Sgarbi rejected, claiming instead that the painting is his property, as it was found during the restoration works of Villa Maldachina in Viterbo.
This is an investigation by Report and Il Fatto Quotidiano that has been discussed for several days. “Sgarbi owns a Manetti – as explained in a summary of the service by the Rai Tre program hosted by Sigfrido Ranucci – that is listed in the database of the Carabinieri’s Nucleo di Tutela dei Beni Culturali (Cultural Heritage Protection Unit) and is reported as stolen. With Il Fatto Quotidiano, Report reconstructs the story of the artwork that Sgarbi claims to have found by pure chance.” The service reconstructs the events, including an interview conducted in Saronno with Paolo Bocedi, who was Sgarbi’s assistant at the time. They talk about the saronnese’s visit to the castle from which the painting was later stolen, a meeting on a motorcycle for the delivery of a painting, but also about the saronnese’s assignments in the fight against usury, starting from his appointment as a contact person for the Lombardy Region. The saronnese is categorical in strongly rejecting any accusation: “I have never been to Brescia on a motorcycle. I only remember that I went to photograph the painting as Vittorio had asked me to. I know that other people went before and after me to request information about the stolen painting. Obviously not me. Vittorio has a different artwork. At the end of this matter, someone will pay. I also told the TV crew: in light of my commitment to fighting the mafia and usury, what sense would it make for me to steal or have a painting stolen? I would also like to remind you that I am not under investigation for this matter.”
Do you want to receive the main news in real time? On Whatsapp, send the message “notizie on” to the number +39 3202734048. On Telegram, search for the channel @ilsaronnobn or click on https://t.me/ilsaronnobn. There is also a WhatsApp channel, click here to subscribe.
