The junior minister is now also facing accusations regarding another work: a painting attributed to the French artist Valentin de Boulogne, valued at €5m (£4.3m), which was seized by police in Montecarlo. Mr Sgarbi is being investigated by a prosecutor for illegally exporting the painting. He says it is a copy – and that it did not belong to him. The BBC has contacted Mr Sgarbi, but has received no response.
