A tourist visiting one of Italy's noted art museums has come under fire after accidentally tearing a hole in a centuries-old painting while trying to take a selfie.
The incident took place Saturday at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, home to some of Europe's most important masterpieces. According to museum officials, the unnamed visitor attempted to mimic the pose of Ferdinando de' Medici, the subject of an 18th-century portrait by Anton Domenico Gabbiani.
Highlights
- A tourist at Florence's Uffizi Gallery tore a hole in an 18th-century portrait while posing for a selfie.
- The man lost balance and fell into the artwork, damaging a painting of Ferdinando de' Medici.
- The Uffizi's new director condemned "selfie culture" and vowed stricter visitor rules.
The photo-op turned into a disaster when the man lost his balance, stumbled backward, and crashed into the canvas, leaving a hole in the painting right at the prince's boot.
Museum staff rushed to remove the painting and reported the tourist
Image credits: TG1
The damage was done in the museum's ground-floor rooms hosting the Florence and Europe: Arts of the 18th Century exhibit at the Uffizi Gallery.
It was the first major show of the museum under new director Simone Verde, according to the Daily Mail.
Fortunately, experts say the damage was "relatively minor" and that the portrait can be repaired.
Image credits: Ozan Tabakoğlu/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
Despite this, the museum didn't let the visitor off the hook, as he was immediately identified and reported to the police.
Staff said the tourist tripped over a low platform designed to keep viewers at a safe distance from the gallery's paintings.
The low platforms had already raised safety concerns in the past after another visitor tripped on them. Fortunately, that visitor did not cause any damage to any artwork.
Image credits: FortressEvropa
"Visitors are looking at the paintings, not at the ground," said Silvia Barlacchi, a staff representative. "Those platforms are unsuitable and too dark."
Italy's museum chief says "selfie culture" is out of control
Image credits: ecpyrosis_
The new Uffizi director didn't hold back in his reaction. In a comment, he placed much of the blame on modern visitor behavior.
"The problem of visitors coming to museums to make memes or take selfies for social media is rampant," Verde said.
"We will set very precise limits, preventing behavior that is not compatible with the sense of our institutions and respect for cultural heritage."
Image credits: TG1
He also stated that the tourist who damaged the 18th-century portrait would be prosecuted.
Social media users were offended by the incident, with many stating that the tourist must be held liable for the damages he incurred.
"Seriously, these people need to be held financially accountable for the damage that they are causing," one commenter wrote.
Image credits: Alejandro Aznar/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
Others also argued that the museum was partly at fault.
"There are two id***s in play here, the tourist who has zero IQ, and the ignorant museum staff for displaying the pieces where tourists can get too close," another commenter stated.
Image credits: EMoriartyX
Still, other social media users poked fun at the incident. "It used to be a priceless painting in the museum, then it took an arrow in the knee," wrote one commenter on X.
A similar art disaster in Italy made headlines earlier this month
Image credits: MosheZaidler
Earlier this month, another tourist in Italy broke a delicate chair sculpture made of Swarovski crystals at the Maffei Palace in Verona.
Image credits: TG1
The crystal-studded chair, titled Van Gogh and created by artist Nicola Bolla, was meant to be admired, not used.
As could be seen in CCTV footage from the gallery, a man, who was together with a woman, decided to pose for photos with the stunning art piece while the room was empty.
Image credits: Palazzo Maffei Verona
The woman was able to take a photo with the crystal-studded chair without incident, but the man ended up falling backwards into the art piece when it was his turn to pose for a photo.
Image credits: Palazzo Maffei Verona
The museum later said the couple fled the room, and called the incident "every museum's nightmare."
Thankfully, restorers were able to repair the fragile piece, but not without sounding the alarm.
"We are sharing this episode not only for the sake of reporting," the museum wrote in a statement, "but to start a real campaign to raise awareness about the value of art and the respect it deserves."
"Art is not just for seeing. It is to be loved. It is to be protected," the gallery stated.
Netizens were unanimous in the idea that art must be respected, and that selfie culture must be controlled
Image credits: SafetySwipe
Image credits: sthorton23
Image credits: VisionQuestress
Image credits: KwikdrawM
Image credits: blusmokinharley
Image credits: Kelazeer
Image credits: rickyliow
Image credits: Skita_Reeter1
Image credits: sandalsonfeet
Image credits: messykat
Image credits: fossildotty
Image credits: PaarlOfYharnam
Image credits: Gypsy_4_
Image credits: wireeye_space_w
Image credits: Bckishere
Image credits: Itsokaytobeeme
Image credits: falfans
Image credits: kaweahman
Image credits: dragonez2001
Image credits: baharezo