The recent incident at the Uffizi Gallery involved an 18th-century oil painting of Ferdinando de' Medici by Anton Domenico Gabbiani, which was reportedly damaged when a visitor lost balance while trying to snap a selfie. The painting was part of the exhibition "Florence and Europe: Arts of the Eighteenth Century," which is now closed until July 2 for repairs. Uffizi Gallery’s director, Simone Verde, expressed concern over the trend of visitors prioritizing social media over the preservation of cultural heritage, stating the need for necessary restrictions on behavior. This unfortunate event also echoes a similar incident earlier this year at Palazzo Maffei in Verona, highlighting a growing issue concerning the safety of art pieces amidst the desire for social media engagement. The exhibition featuring the damaged artwork will resume its schedule until November 28 once repairs are completed.
Selfie Culture Threatens Art: Uffizi Portrait Damaged by Visitor
Selfie Culture Threatens Art: Uffizi Portrait Damaged by Visitor
A museum visitor's quest for the perfect selfie leads to an 18th-century painting's damage.
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence has faced criticism after a tourist, while attempting to capture a selfie in front of Ferdinando de' Medici’s portrait, caused significant damage to the artwork. This incident sparked discussions on the rising trend of “selfie culture” in museums and the need for stricter visitor guidelines.
