Villa Vittorio June 9th, 1940
Luca bent down to kiss Luciano on the cheek. “Be a good boy for your Nonno e Nonna while we are away,” he said to his son. “Papà e Mamma will be back soon to see our brave and handsome Luciano!” he exclaimed, squeezing his son tightly.
Sally leaned down to hug and kiss Luciano on the cheek as well, “We won’t be gone too long my beautiful darling boy,” she added.
Luciano kissed both his father and mother on the cheek then hugged his Nonna’s leg smiling as they watched Sally and Luca get into the car for the train station.
“I do dislike leaving him for too long,” Sally sighed. “But it is important to talk with Bernard in the safety and privacy of his home, Villa I Tatti near Florence, about everything going on in Europe with his Jewish clients’ art collections being seized by the Nazis,” she continued conflictedly.
“I understand the importance of your work, mi amore. And that is why I insisted on going with you to ensure you are safe as things are heating up in this war,” Luca replied. “It is only a matter of time before Italy is pulled formally into the conflict, and I want to ensure you are safe. I will miss Luciano as well, but we know he is safe with his Nonno and Nonna at Villa Vittorio,” he said with a sigh. “After we leave your meetings, we should also go up to Turin to check on Rita and her family to see if there’s anything they need help with too,” Luca added with concern.
“Agreed, darling,” Sally replied. “We won’t be long in Villa I Tatti with Bernard, and then we can take the first train up to Piemonte to meet with Rita,” Sally replied.
Villa I Tatti (outside Florence) June 10th, 1940
“Viscontessa Cavallo, thank you and your husband Viscount Cavallo for meeting so quickly in person,” Bernard Berenson replied thankfully. “It has been quite difficult since my falling out with Duveen brothers a few years ago, and the increase in anti-Jewish sentiment and laws here in Italy,” he continued. “I do so appreciate and enjoy continuing to be your mentor with art restoration and preservation, Viscontessa,” he added. “You are quite the accomplished protégé and no doubt will do well in an art dealership business of your own, should you so choose,” he concluded with immense pride in his pupil and protégé.
“You are most gracious in your compliments and belief in me,” Sally replied humbly. “I’m very grateful for all you have taught me and I hope to continue making you proud of me,” she added. “Please do call me Sally.”
“And please call me Luca,” Viscount Cavallo added. “I’m also most grateful for all you’ve taught my darling Sally.” “She is such an independent and accomplished woman, and I am very proud of all she’s accomplished and know as well that she will be very successful if she chooses to open her own art dealership business one day.” “I strongly support her independence and always will,” Luca said with pride. “It is one of the many reasons I’m attracted to her and love her so much, her independence and talents,” Luca added beaming with happiness and pride looking into the eyes of his loving wife.
“Thank you both,” Sally replied then directing the conversation to the serious matters of business, “Bernard, you mentioned in your telegraph that you wanted to discuss some serious matters in private,” Sally said.
“Yes, most definitely,” Bernard started. “You see as the war has heated up over the past months since September, there are numerous reports of Jewish families being arrested and their home ransacked with precious art collections carted off by the Nazi officers. Rumors have it that they are confiscating it for Hitler and his personal goal of establishing a super museum in Linz Austria. They have specific preferences for some classical art for the museum, but do not discriminate and take everything from the Jewish homes they invade, including some more modern surrealist artwork. They refer to the surrealist or other modern artwork as “degenerate art.” They don’t want it in their super museum but do confiscate it illegally to sell for profit to fund their regime.” “We’ve heard rumors that France may fall to the Nazis any day now, and that the Nazis are considering using Jeu de Paume in Paris as a central processing storage point for looted art from private collections,” he said sadly. “There are many Jewish private collections in Poland that are gone as well, and we are having a challenging time tracking where the people they are sending people. And other places in Europe are reporting similar situations. It is difficult to stay updated on all that is happening. We feel the overwhelming speed of the attacks and propaganda and brutality is the main purpose to make any resistance groups feel hopeless,” he concluded with a sob in his voice as his wife Mary placed her hand on his shoulders comforting him.
“As you can see, this is all taking a tremendous toll on Bernard,” his wife said. “But we both refuse to leave Italy at this time and continue to do what we can from our safety here.” “Bernard and I both hoped that you Sally and Luca would be able to help us with additional work to protect artwork that hasn’t been seized yet, and where possible, help document what has been taken from whom and any knowledge of its last location,” she continued. “Perhaps, one day we can restore these priceless collections to the rightful families and owners,” she concluded.
“Of course, we will both help however we can,” Sally replied. “We can discuss the details of next steps before we leave for Turin to visit with our friends Rita and her family to ensure their collections are safe,” Sally continued.
As they finished dinner and discussing next steps, Bernard walked across the room to turn on the radio for a bit of music to lighten their moods. Just as the beautiful strains of music filled the room, it was abruptly interrupted by a stern and solemn voice announcing “Today, June 10th, 1940, Italia as officially declared war on Britain and France, formally joining the Axis Powers with Nazi Germany in the war.”
The announcer went on to give more details, but everyone in the room was in too much shock to remember anything else that was said.
“The war will be on our doorsteps in no time!” Luca exclaimed gravely. “We must get to Rita and her family soon,” he continued with concern. “And we must be sure that you Sally and Luciano and all our family and friends are safe,” Luca continued with urgency.
“You are correct, my darling,” Sally replied. “But let’s try and stay calm. I fear we are in for a long tough time with this war and we all need to support each other,” she added.
“Agreed,” Bernard and his wife Mary replied. “I know you both must get to Rita and her family quickly, but it is late now, and I highly recommend you get your rest tonight, and we will have our driver take you to the rail station early in the morning for the first train to Piemonte,” Bernard suggested.
“I supposed you are right,” Luca sighed. “Not sure how much sleep any of us will get tonight, but we should at least try,” he said.
Piemonte June 11th, 1940
Rita and Paola greeted Luca and Sally at the rail station and quickly made their way back to the country house.
“We are still in shock over the news that Italy has entered the war now,” Rita kept saying repeatedly. “We knew it was possible but didn’t expect it this soon.” “What did Bernard have to say about everything?” she asked.
After Sally relayed all of what Bernard had shared with Rita and her family, they all sat in silence, shock and disbelief that these things were happening. It seemed like some fever dream.
“I know it is a shock,” Sally said, breaking the silence. “But the majority of your collection is in safe hands and locations unknown and far from the Nazis and areas of current conflict,” she continued. “Of course, with rumors that France may fall to the Nazis, that does put some of your collection at risk, and Bernard and I have some ideas on how to make some changes to protect the collection in case that happens,” Sally added.
“There is the one personal painting that we still haven’t removed from Villa Scienza e Arte in Turin,” Paola replied. “The portrait we mentioned that our artist friend, Giorgio de Chirico painted of Rita and me, entitled “Sisters of Scienza e Arte” to reflect our individual professional lives,” she added. “From what you described from Bernard, the Nazis wouldn’t want it for their museum in Linz but certainly may want to sell it for profit to fund their regime. Giorgio’s artwork is selling for impressive sums these days,” Paola said with concern.
“We would want to move it to a safe place,” Rita added, “But we don’t want to create more risk by going there now,” she warned. “Perhaps, wait a day or a week until after the war announcement and people won’t be on such alert, and then we can go into Turin to get the painting,” she suggested.
“I agree,” Sally replied. “No use calling attention to ourselves and your villa in Turin right away.” There’s not a since of urgency in Turin itself right now.” “Let’s try to enjoy the day together and have a nice dinner,” she suggested. “Tomorrow we can start a fresh day planning our next steps carefully,” she concluded, as everyone nodded in agreement.
Evening of June 11th, 1940 / Morning of June 12th, 1940
After dinner, they all went to bed and slept restlessly. The next morning, as they awoke for breakfast, they heard a neighbor heavily pounding on their front door. Adele nervously went to answer the door to find their nearby neighbor frantically shouting in Italian with tears streaming down her face. Adela thanked her for the urgent message and offered for her to come in and calm herself, but she waved her hands in thanks and ran off to alert the next neighbor. Everyone in the house heard what the anxious neighbor had said and sat in silence, but Sally with her still limited Italian, didn’t catch the message.
“What did she say? What happened?” Sally asked nervously.
“She said that the allies bombed Turin overnight and several people were killed,” Rita said in shock. “They bombed the Fiat Mirafiori plant. We suspected that Turin would be a target for bombings, especially with the Fiat and other industrial and manufacturing plants that provide machinery, vehicles, supplies to the Italian government of Il Duce,” she said. “But we didn’t think it would begin this soon as we just entered the war!” “It hasn’t even been a full 24 hours yet!” she exclaimed.
“Were any of the residential areas hit?” Sally asked
“No, thankfully, it appears to only be industrial areas from what the neighbor reported,” Adele replied. “But who knows how long it will be before they start bombing the entire city,” she added gravely.
“We should go to Turin to get the painting from our villa immediately!” Paola shouted.
“No, it is much too dangerous now that bombing has started,” Rita replied.
“I don’t think they will bomb again today or bomb any residential areas yet,” Luca said. “It may be the safest time to go in now and get it,” he suggested.
“Perhaps you are correct,” Adele mentioned. “I can arrange for a private truck and separate car to meet you in Turin at the villa to quickly relocate the painting here, and we can then figure out a way to protect it more long term.”
“Agreed,” Sally replied. “Luca and I will go into Turin now to retrieve the painting. Rita, will you accompany us?” she asked.
“Of course I will,” Rita replied. “And we are forever in your debt and thank both of you so much,” Rita said gratefully.
As Adele promised, a private car greeted Rita, Luca and Sally at the train station in Turin followed by a private truck for the painting. As the two vehicles made their way towards the entrance of Villa Scienza e Arte, Luca immediately spotted the other oversized truck parked in front of the villa.
With concern, Luca leapt from the car as it barely came to a stop, running towards the other truck. As Rita and Sally quickly excited the car calling after Luca to wait for them, Sally quickly noticed the German Nazi symbol on the truck and the Nazi flags on the hood. Her blood froze as she called out to Luca, “Wait Luca! Stop!”
As Sally called out to Luca, two uniformed Nazi officers came around the side of the truck carrying a large painting and laughing to themselves. Rita saw that the painting was her portrait with Paola they came to take the safety, and her blood began to boil, and her face filled with rage, “What are you doing with my painting!” Rita screamed at the officers who looked up with bemused confusion.
“Oh, are you one of the Jews who live here? Is this your degenerate art?” one of the Nazi officers sneered. “Well, it is ours now. We will sell it to fund our regime, and you better watch out for we will be back for more soon,” the second officer said ominously.
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Luca shouted. “I’m Viscount Luca Cavallo and I demand that you give us the painting and leave the premises,” he yelled authoritatively to the German officers.
“You don’t look Jewish at all,” the officers scolded. “Why should you care? Besides, your title means nothing to us, and we will do as we please with the painting,” the Nazi officers replied with contempt.
As Luca reached for the painting to force it from their hands, a scuffle ensued. Then the otherwise quiet residential street erupted with the sound of gunshots! Sally screamed in terror and ran towards Luca screaming, “No!” as Rita tried to pull her back. It was too late. The Nazi officer had pulled his revolver and shot Luca in the chest at point blank range and pushed him back into the street. “You should have minded your own business!” the Nazi officer scoffed. “Now, you’ve paid the price.” “Let’s get out of here,” the other officer shouted as they threw the painting into the truck and sped off down the street.
Sally reached Luca laying in the street and fell on her knees taking him into her arms and pressing her hand into the bloody wound on his chest, “Oh my darling Luca. No, no!” she sobbed while kissing him on the forehead. “Stay with me my darling.” “Help is on the way.”
Luca looked up in shock at Sally’s face as a tear fell from his eyes choking out the words through the pain, “Mi amore, I love you always and will forever be in your heart.” And with a sudden shudder from the pain, his body went limp in her arms as he took his last breath.
Sally screamed, “No, Luca! No, my darling! Don’t leave me! Please don’t go!” She could hear Rita saying something in the distance and the wailing sirens of emergency medical vehicles approaching, but she felt as if the world around her broke open and was about to swallow her down. She felt the emergency attendees trying to get her to let go of Luca’s lifeless body, but she was clinging to him with all the strength she had. She couldn’t let go. Finally, she succumbed to the intensity of the moment and was about to faint, releasing Luca’s body for the paramedics to attend to him. As her consciousness faded, she heard Luca’s voice saying, I will forever be in your heart, but all she could think of was how will I go on without you my darling Luca? What will become of me?
