Incident at the Palazzo Maffei Museum
An Italian museum has asked its patrons to respect art after a couple filmed themselves interacting with a chair covered in hundreds of glittering crystals, resulting in significant damage to the piece. The incident occurred at the Palazzo Maffei in Verona, where the couple, who have not been identified, filmed themselves pretending to sit on the chair, known as the "Van Gogh" chair, before the man accidentally fell on it, crushing it underneath him.
The Damage and Aftermath
The couple fled the museum before employees noticed what had happened, and officials have since informed the police about the incident. Museum director Vanessa Carlon stated that while the incident was an accident, the couple’s decision to leave without speaking to staff was not. "Sometimes we lose our brain to take a photo and we don’t think about the consequences," she said. "Of course, it was an accident, but these two people went without talking to us – that’s not an accident. This is a nightmare for every museum."
The Art Piece
The chair was created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and is made with Swarovski crystals. It is named after Vincent van Gogh as a tribute to the Dutch artist’s painting of a simple chair. The piece is considered invaluable, and the museum has declined to estimate its value. According to art historian Carlotta Menegazzo, the chair’s frame is mostly hollow and held together with film, making it fragile and susceptible to damage.
Restoration and Exhibition
Despite the damage, the chair has been restored and is once again on display at the museum. Menegazzo praised the restoration work, saying that "a great job" was done to repair the piece. The Palazzo Maffei, which opened in 2020, exhibits over 650 pieces, including paintings by Picasso and ancient Egyptian art.
A Call to Respect Art
The museum’s director hopes that the publication of the CCTV footage will not become a "negative episode" but instead serve as a reminder to visitors to respect art. "Everyone should enter museums or churches where art is exhibited in a more respectful way," she said. "Art has to be respected and loved because it is very fragile." The majority of visitors to the museum are considerate, and the staff hopes that this incident will not discourage people from appreciating the art on display.
