Paper Title
A Disputed Painting in Cefalù (Sicily, Italy) During World War II: The Portrait of An Unknown Man by Antonello Da Messina and Its Missed Renovation (1942)

Abstract
This article aims to outline a little-known episode that occurred in Cefalù in 1942, when the Ministry of National Education asked the local Mandralisca Museum to deliver the well-known Portrait of the Unknown Man by Antonello da Messina to Rome. At that time, the small museum was protected against enemy aircraft attacks: the portrait was kept in an armoured bunker in the museum’s basement and was not available to visitors and scholars. The request was made in the assumption that the portrait needed to be restored/conserved and roused firm resistance among the local and regional authorities. A controversy arose because Cefalù’s citizens and safeguarding authorities were afraid of any potential damage to the painting caused during the transportation from Sicily to Rome. This contribution seeks to understand the role of regional and local authorities acting to preserve cultural heritage in the wartime context of World War II in Sicily. The article considers a novel set of archival records, previously neglected by scholars, which help us better to understand the social networks and dynamics of events. The contribution can be added to the literature on World War II art protection offering insights into Sicily. The results demonstrate how local authorities (including Church representatives) opposed the Ministry’s request, impeding the transfer of the valuable portrait to Rome, considering the war emergency context and the highly potential risk of damage during the transfer between Cefalù and Rome. Keywords - 1942, Antonello da Messina, authorities, Cefalù, church, cultural heritage, Mandralisca, renovation, Sicily.