Museum’s CCTV shows moment visitor broke artwork by sitting on it

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"Visitor Damages Crystal-Covered Artwork at Italian Museum by Sitting on It"

Museum’s CCTV shows moment visitor broke artwork by sitting on it analysis cover image CNN 8.4
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Original Article Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/16/travel/museum-tourist-breaks-van-gogh-chair-scli-intl
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TruthLens AI Summary

A recent incident at the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona has brought attention to the importance of respecting art, following the damage of a crystal-covered chair inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's renowned painting, 'Van Gogh's Chair'. Security footage captured a man and a woman taking turns to pose with the artwork, created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, before the man sat on the chair, resulting in the destruction of its seat and two front legs. The incident, which occurred in April, was only recently made public as a reminder to visitors about their responsibilities while engaging with art. Vanessa Carlon, the museum's director, expressed her dismay regarding the event, noting that the couple's actions were not just foolish but also disrespectful to the artwork and the museum environment. Despite initial fears that the delicate piece might be beyond repair, restorers successfully restored the chair, allowing it to shine once again, much to the relief of the museum staff.

The museum has since reported the incident to the police, although the identities of the individuals involved remain unknown. In a statement, Palazzo Maffei thanked the majority of its visitors who treat art with care and reverence, emphasizing that art should be appreciated and loved. This incident is not isolated; in recent years, several artworks have been damaged by careless gallery-goers. Notably, a painting by Mark Rothko was removed from display after being damaged by a child, and a sculpture by Ai Weiwei was shattered during an exhibition opening. These events highlight a growing concern within the art community about the need for increased awareness and respect for artistic works in public spaces, as they are not only valuable but also represent cultural heritage.

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Source URL: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/16/travel/museum-tourist-breaks-van-gogh-chair-scli-intl

A crystal-covered chair inspired by one ofVincent Van Gogh’smost famous paintings was seriously damaged when a tourist sat on it while posing for a photograph, according to the Italian museum where the artwork is on display.

Footage released by the Palazzo Maffei in Verona shows a man and woman taking turns to pose with the museum’s “Van Gogh” chair, before the man sits on it, breaking its seat and two front legs.

The woman then helps him up, before both hurry out of the room.

Taking its name from the renownedDutch painter, the work by Italian artist Nicola Bolla was inspired by Van Gogh’s 1888 painting “Van Gogh’s Chair,” which depicts a simple wooden chair positioned on a tile floor.

Bolla’s modern interpretation, which was made between 2006 and 2007, is covered with hundreds of Swarovski crystals.

“They waited for the staff to leave the room,” Vanessa Carlon, the museum’s director, said in a video posted on its social media. “And then… off they went, indifferent to what had happened.”

Commenting on the CCTV footage, Carlon said: “What you just saw would be ridiculous if it hadn’t, unfortunately, actually happened. The ultimate nightmare for any museum.”

Initially, the museum was concerned that the chair would be unfixable because of its delicate design, but restorers did an “outstanding job,” Carlon said.

“Fortunately, the piece is shining once again,” she added.

The museum has reported the incident to the police, it told CNN Monday, adding that the identities of the people involved are not currently known.

Palazzo Maffei released the CCTV footage of the incident, which happened in April, on Thursday, as a reminder to visitors of the importance of treating art with respect.

“A special thanks to all of you who walk through the museum’s rooms every day with care, attention and wonder,” it said in a statement. “Because art is not just to be seen. It is to be loved.”

Other artworks have also fallen victim to gallery-goers in recent years.

In April, a painting by Mark Rothko, thought to be worth tens of millions of dollars, wasremoved from displayin a Dutch museum after it was damaged by a visiting child.

Last year, a manshattered a sculptureby Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei during the opening of his exhibition at Palazzo Fava in the Italian city of Bologna.

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Source: CNN