Stolen works, general Riccardi: Turnover of over 6 bln annually, Eastern European countries new destinations

Stolen works, general Riccardi: Turnover of over 6 bln annually, Eastern European countries new destinations

Blows in museums diminish, because in these structures security increases. The new destinations of the works stolen in Italy are the Eastern countries. The turnover is 6 and a half billion a year, of which 40% with the United States, 20% with China, then with the United Kingdom, which remains a final historic destination for the stolen works of art . In general the new rich of the earth are the new buyers at the black of Italian art.

General Roberto Riccardi, Commander of the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, has revealed the changes in the routes of the stolen works of art, intervening on the XXII Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism of Paestum. Riccardi recalled that after the earthquake of 2016 in Umbria, Marche, Lazio and Abruzzo, 30 thousand euros of cultural assets were recovered. "Heritage is the gift of fathers. We must be worthy of it, because we must deliver it at least intact. We Carabinieri of the Heritage Protection Unit are 300 and this number reminds me of the Battle of Thermopylae and the landing of Pisacane ", the General of the Weapon joked that he added:" We know how they both ended up. We need all the Italian people to win this battle and rescue all the stolen works of art. Not defending art is dishonoring your father and your mother. "

Riccardi then presented his latest work, entitled "Art Detective. From the Monuments Men to the Carabinieri della Cultura ", published by Rizzoli, and received the Paestum Award" Mario Napoli "on behalf of the General Commander of the Carabinieri, Giovanni Nistri, awarded for his extraordinary commitment, not only related to the functions performed in the area of ​​the Command, but for having contributed with the "Great Pompeii Project" to the realization of an internationally recognized best practice.

The presentation of the book was very impressive. In 1969 the sensational theft of the "Nativity" by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio took place in the oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo. This is perhaps the most sought-after painting in the world: "Number one. Most wanted "said Riccardi. Which is still hostage to those who stole it, or to others unknown. Many mysteries surround this theft: "Of course – explained the general, there is only that the picture is missing. Another certainty is that we will continue to look for it, as long as we are there ". But 1969 is also the year in which the first Carabinieri Unit for the Protection of Artistic Heritage was born.

Among the other great works of which Riccardi told, there is the Euphronius Crater, which was stolen from Cerveteri in the seventies and through a series of vicissitudes, ended up at the Metropolitan Museum in New York from which it was brought back to Italy in 2008 Riccardi said that on these occasions, once the work has been identified, cultural diplomacy must take place to support the work of the Carabinieri. In short, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage intervenes, the Ministry of Justice, the State Attorney, all sit at the table with those in possession of the work. In the case of the Euphronius Crater, with the Metropolitan Museum of New York. Getting the return is a goal.

"The problem of the so-called grave robbers – said Riccardi again – is an impoverishment, because the good is in any case decontextualized. The problem of fakes – he explained – is generally a war between experts. If it is not resolved, the RIS intervene, studying the materials, the colors, the pigments. Often an inconsistency between dates can lead to verification ". The Tavola Doria by Leonardo or Francesco Morandini is back in 2012, one of the core operations of the Core. Riccardi concluded with a consideration on the close relationship between art and madness: "He who sees with different eyes, sees different things".