An unfortunate incident at Palazzo Maffei in Verona has sparked a conversation about art appreciation and respect after a couple was filmed damaging a unique chair adorned with Swarovski crystals. The museum's director has expressed hope that this episode will promote greater awareness around cultural artifacts.
Couple's Disregard for Art Leads to Broken Crystal Chair in Italian Museum
Couple's Disregard for Art Leads to Broken Crystal Chair in Italian Museum
Italian museum issues a call to respect art after a couple accidentally damages a crystal-encrusted chair.
The Palazzo Maffei in Verona is reeling from an incident where a couple unintentionally broke a unique chair decorated with hundreds of sparkling crystals, leading to a public plea for respect towards art. The event occurred in April, but the museum recently shared the CCTV footage, highlighting the couple's behavior beforehand. The video shows the man and woman posing for selfies as they pretend to sit on the so-called "Van Gogh" chair. Suddenly, the man slips, crashing onto the chair, which subsequently broke under his weight. Museum staff were not alerted immediately, as the couple swiftly exited the museum.
Vanessa Carlon, museum director, expressed concern over the lack of communication from the couple post-incident, stating, "Of course it was an accident, but these two people left without speaking to us - that isn't an accident." She labeled the event a "nightmare for any museum" and reinforced the importance of treating artworks with care.
The damaged chair, created by the Italian artist Nicola Bolla, pays homage to Vincent Van Gogh and features a structure that, while appearing robust, is largely hollow and delicately assembled. Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at the museum, noted that it was clearly marked as a work of art, and still, caution was not exercised. Fortunately, the museum has successfully restored the piece after damage to two legs and the main seat.
Palazzo Maffei, which opened in 2020, hosts a collection of 650 artworks, including pieces by iconic figures such as Picasso and items from ancient Egypt. Carlon emphasized that the majority of visitors demonstrate respect for the artworks and stated that she hopes this incident and its accompanying footage will discourage negative behaviors, instead inspiring a culture of respect and love for art.
Vanessa Carlon, museum director, expressed concern over the lack of communication from the couple post-incident, stating, "Of course it was an accident, but these two people left without speaking to us - that isn't an accident." She labeled the event a "nightmare for any museum" and reinforced the importance of treating artworks with care.
The damaged chair, created by the Italian artist Nicola Bolla, pays homage to Vincent Van Gogh and features a structure that, while appearing robust, is largely hollow and delicately assembled. Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at the museum, noted that it was clearly marked as a work of art, and still, caution was not exercised. Fortunately, the museum has successfully restored the piece after damage to two legs and the main seat.
Palazzo Maffei, which opened in 2020, hosts a collection of 650 artworks, including pieces by iconic figures such as Picasso and items from ancient Egypt. Carlon emphasized that the majority of visitors demonstrate respect for the artworks and stated that she hopes this incident and its accompanying footage will discourage negative behaviors, instead inspiring a culture of respect and love for art.
