The Palazzo Maffei, an Italian museum, has made a heartfelt appeal to visitors, emphasizing the importance of respecting art after a couple inadvertently broke a stunning chair adorned with hundreds of sparkling crystals. This incident, which was captured on video and shared recently, shows a man and woman taking photos while pretending to sit on the chair, named in honor of Vincent van Gogh. In a surprising turn of events, the man accidentally fell onto the chair, causing it to shatter.
Museum officials were quick to respond, reporting the incident to the police as the couple fled before staff could intervene. Museum director Vanessa Carlon expressed her disappointment, stating, "Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture," and highlights the couple's departure without any communication.
The broken chair, an artwork by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, is encrusted with Swarovski crystals and was mistakenly labeled as a real functional chair, despite its fragile design. Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at the museum, confirmed that while the chair may look solid, its structure is primarily hollow and fragile, designed to be admired rather than sat upon. Luckily, the museum managed to restore the damaged piece, and it has now returned to its display.
The Palazzo Maffei opened its doors in 2020 and features a rich collection of 650 pieces, including artworks from renowned artists like Picasso. Despite the mishap, Carlon noted that most visitors treat art with respect and hopes this incident can serve as a reminder of the need to appreciate artwork’s delicate nature. The museum’s message resonates: all art places deserve respect and appreciation for their fragility.
Museum officials were quick to respond, reporting the incident to the police as the couple fled before staff could intervene. Museum director Vanessa Carlon expressed her disappointment, stating, "Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture," and highlights the couple's departure without any communication.
The broken chair, an artwork by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, is encrusted with Swarovski crystals and was mistakenly labeled as a real functional chair, despite its fragile design. Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at the museum, confirmed that while the chair may look solid, its structure is primarily hollow and fragile, designed to be admired rather than sat upon. Luckily, the museum managed to restore the damaged piece, and it has now returned to its display.
The Palazzo Maffei opened its doors in 2020 and features a rich collection of 650 pieces, including artworks from renowned artists like Picasso. Despite the mishap, Carlon noted that most visitors treat art with respect and hopes this incident can serve as a reminder of the need to appreciate artwork’s delicate nature. The museum’s message resonates: all art places deserve respect and appreciation for their fragility.
