Milan, Aug. 18 (LaPresse) – “It seems to me like a senseless theft, a theft whose reasons and meaning are difficult to understand, because, as is always the case with Antonello, this is a unique piece, impossible to sell, as well as an extremely fragile panel. Its delicacy itself can represent another major problem, as can the fact that it is, again, a unique piece, effectively impossible to sell, beyond any possible negotiation.” This was said by renowned critic Vittorio Sgarbi, former Undersecretary for Culture, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, commenting on the theft of a number of works by Antonello da Messina from a museum in the Sicilian town where the artist was born. The Ferrara-born critic is particularly familiar with the Madonna by Antonello da Messina stolen on the night of August 15, which was purchased by the Sicilian Region in 2003 as part of celebrations marking 25 years of Cultural Heritage in Sicily. “I was the one who suggested that the Sicilian Region buy it at auction from Christie’s in July 2003. It came from a private collection in Berlin and was sold for the modest sum of £257,188.75 (equivalent to €361,857.42), only slightly above its auction starting price of £200,000. I am very proud to have been the person behind this acquisition. I remain convinced that the Sicilian Region did not do well, but extremely well, to buy that small panel,” he says.
Messina, Sgarbi: “Senseless theft, Antonello’s works cannot be sold”
Milan, Aug. 18 (LaPresse) – “It seems to me like a senseless theft, a theft whose reasons and meaning are difficult to understand, because, as is always the case with Antonello, this is a unique piece, impossible to sell, as well as an extremely fragile panel. Its delicacy itself can represent another major problem, as can the fact that it is, again, a unique piece, effectively impossible to sell, beyond any possible negotiation.” This was said by renowned critic Vittorio Sgarbi, former Undersecretary for Culture, in an interview with Corriere della Sera, commenting on the theft of a number of works by Antonello da Messina from a museum in the Sicilian town where the artist was born. The Ferrara-born critic is particularly familiar with the Madonna by Antonello da Messina stolen on the night of August 15, which was purchased by the Sicilian Region in 2003 as part of celebrations marking 25 years of Cultural Heritage in Sicily. “I was the one who suggested that the Sicilian Region buy it at auction from Christie’s in July 2003. It came from a private collection in Berlin and was sold for the modest sum of £257,188.75 (equivalent to €361,857.42), only slightly above its auction starting price of £200,000. I am very proud to have been the person behind this acquisition. I remain convinced that the Sicilian Region did not do well, but extremely well, to buy that small panel,” he says.