Italian art critic and politician Vittorio Sgarbi recently discussed his upcoming marriage and new book on a televised appearance, amid ongoing legal challenges from his daughter concerning his well-being. The interview, following a period of hospitalization for depression, revealed a subdued Sgarbi defending his relationship and future plans while a court weighs a petition for a legal guardian. The situation has sparked public debate and further scrutiny of the veteran figure’s personal life.
Sgarbi discusses his new book and upcoming wedding in a television interview, saying, “With Sabrina, once the initial shock wore off, what remained was love, and that’s why I’m marrying her.”
“Evelina could have come to me, but she didn’t.” But “with Sabrina, once the initial shock wore off, what remained was love, and that’s why I’m marrying her.”
Vittorio Sgarbi returned to television recently, and observers immediately noted a change in his demeanor. He appeared more subdued than in his previous interview with Vespa, and even more so compared to earlier this year, before his hospitalization for depression. He appeared pale and spoke with some difficulty, leading some to describe him as detached. “Seeing him like this breaks your heart,” wrote one longtime follower online. Selvaggia Lucarelli commented on the situation, writing: “Perhaps Vittorio Sgarbi should be left in peace.”
The art critic and politician appeared on Mara Venier’s Domenica In to discuss his new book, «Il cielo più vicino. La montagna nell’arte» (The Closest Sky. The Mountain in Art), published by La nave di Teseo. However, as before, the conversation also turned to his recent family matters. Sgarbi’s daughter, Evelina, supported by her mother, petitioned the court for a legal guardian to be appointed for him. While awaiting a decision from the Rome court, the back-and-forth between the two continues in the press.
“Evelina Could Have Come to Me”
“She could have easily come to visit me, but she didn’t, and she decided to do this instead,” Sgarbi told Mara Venier, referring to Evelina, who believes her father is no longer capable of managing his affairs and accuses Sabrina Colle, Sgarbi’s partner, of keeping her away from him.
Regarding Colle, Sgarbi explained their wedding in Venice: “I lived a significant part of my life there, a happy memory and place. It’s right to give some of my visibility, my existence, to someone who has been so close to me, who has supported me and given me strength during the difficulties of daily life. Time doesn’t change people’s spirits; at a certain point, there’s a conviction that some values are shared and must be fully embraced. Her irony and her amusement at my jokes are a form of intelligence, which today has found consolation and reassurance in the face of provocation. The initial shock fades, and love remains.”
Evelina Sgarbi: “My Father is Being Manipulated”
Following his previous interview with Vespa (“my daughter Evelina is seeking attention, she wants the father she didn’t find”), the 25-year-old immediately responded, accusing: “He is being manipulated by cynical, heartless, and unscrupulous people.”
She intervened again today, stating: “What happened on RAI today was, if possible, an even more demeaning and humiliating spectacle than the interview with Bruno Vespa and the wedding video that aired on La Vita in diretta. My father in that video doesn’t say ‘I’m marrying Sabrina Colle because I’ve discovered a true love for her and because I’ve changed my mind about marriage,’ but says in a tired way, almost as if reading from a script, ‘I choose the certain path rather than the danger.’ It sounds like resignation to stay calm. But what must he protect himself from? There isn’t even a single sincere word that symbolizes true love, rather a collage of phrases prepared beforehand and repeated. I continue to think he is completely manipulated by the people around him.”
She also commented on his physical state: “He is undoubtedly intoxicated by the medication he’s taking, swollen, full of tics. If they want to portray him as having worked on the book these past months, that’s not true. He’s a wellspring of material for these things. You can easily make books. He lets things happen, he lets himself be lived. I’ve also read some comments on the video suggesting he’s reading from a script. I thought he was being manipulated, but not to this extent.” “I saw my father gasping for breath again, with his gaze fixed on nothing, very disturbing. Even on social media, people are realizing a reality made up of jackals and vultures. I saw him suffering, forced to go and promote the book.”
The Judge Under Review
There is also controversy surrounding the judge of the Rome civil court handling the case for the legal guardian. During the first hearing in October, Evelina noted an excessive “familiarity” and a “friendly” atmosphere. “She was all concerned about the media aspect – commented Evelina referring to Paola Scorza – and paid no attention to my father’s health, in fact, after accepting the book as a gift, she immediately asked for an autograph.” This led to the request for her recusal and the appointment of another judge.
