The Palazzo Maffei Casa Museo, in the Italian city of Verona, reported that a piece of art was severely damaged in recent weeks after being used as a seat by a visitor. The affected piece is the installation known as “Van Gogh’s Chair,” created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and covered with Swarovski crystals.
According to the images captured by the museum’s security cameras, a tourist sat on the artwork after their companion posed next to it for a photograph. The individual’s weight caused two legs of the structure, made of hollow aluminum and classified as fragile by the museum, to break. The couple left the scene without informing the staff of the incident.
The museum’s management handed over the video records to the local police in order to identify the culprits. So far, it has not been confirmed whether the authorities were able to locate them.
The museum director, Vanessa Carlon, described the incident as a serious situation that reflects the challenges faced by cultural institutions in terms of conservation and security. The artwork has been restored and returned to display after a process involving experts in art conservation.
The museum has launched an awareness campaign to alert visitors about the importance of respecting the exhibited works and not interfering with art installations, regardless of their appearance or functionality.
The case adds to a series of recent incidents in European museums where works of art have been accidentally damaged by tourists, sparking a debate on the need to strengthen security measures and preventive signage in cultural spaces.