The Italian museum, Palazzo Maffei, recently found itself at the center of attention after a couple was caught on camera damaging an extravagant chair embellished with hundreds of glittering Swarovski crystals. The incident, which was recorded in April but released to the public on June 12, shows the couple engaging in playful poses before the man unexpectedly collapsed onto the chair, shattering its delicate structure under his weight.
Museum officials were forced to take action as the couple reportedly fled the scene before being approached by museum staff. "Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture and don't think about the consequences," lamented museum director Vanessa Carlon. She emphasized that while the act may have been accidental, leaving without addressing the situation was not something one would expect from respectful visitors.
The damaged chair, an artwork by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, serves as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh and features a hollow frame covered in machine-cut, polished glass. Initially, the museum refrained from disclosing the piece's value, but the art historian Carlotta Menegazzo explained that it was carefully designed to appear sturdy while being quite fragile.
Restoration efforts have since been successful, with the chair now back on display, though it is a stark reminder to visitors of the importance of respecting art and its space. Carlon remains hopeful that this unfortunate episode won't overshadow the museum's overall positive visitor experience. She believes that it should encourage all to approach art venues with a heightened sense of respect and care, as "art must be respected and loved because it is very fragile."
Museum officials were forced to take action as the couple reportedly fled the scene before being approached by museum staff. "Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture and don't think about the consequences," lamented museum director Vanessa Carlon. She emphasized that while the act may have been accidental, leaving without addressing the situation was not something one would expect from respectful visitors.
The damaged chair, an artwork by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, serves as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh and features a hollow frame covered in machine-cut, polished glass. Initially, the museum refrained from disclosing the piece's value, but the art historian Carlotta Menegazzo explained that it was carefully designed to appear sturdy while being quite fragile.
Restoration efforts have since been successful, with the chair now back on display, though it is a stark reminder to visitors of the importance of respecting art and its space. Carlon remains hopeful that this unfortunate episode won't overshadow the museum's overall positive visitor experience. She believes that it should encourage all to approach art venues with a heightened sense of respect and care, as "art must be respected and loved because it is very fragile."
