Child Accidentally Damages €50 Million Rothko Artwork at Museum

A young visitor inadvertently damages a revered Rothko piece valued at approximately €50 million, prompting discussions of conservation strategies and liability.

A child has reportedly damaged a highly valuable painting by the iconic American artist Mark Rothko at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. The institution is currently deliberating on the next actions regarding the treatment of Rothko's Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8, which has sustained superficial damage. According to a spokesperson for the museum, the incident occurred during an “unguarded moment,” as stated in a report by Algemeen Dagblad (AD) last week.

The damage is described as superficial, manifesting as minor scratches in the unvarnished paint layer at the lower part of the painting. Valued at an estimated €50 million (£42.5 million), the museum is actively seeking conservation expertise both within the Netherlands and internationally to assess the best course of action. The spokesperson expressed optimism that the artwork would be displayed again in the future.

Experts in art conservation, like Sophie McAloone from the Fine Art Restoration Company, noted that modern unvarnished paintings such as Rothko's work are particularly vulnerable to damage due to their complex materials, lack of protective coatings, and the prominence of color fields. She emphasized that even small scratches can significantly alter the viewer's perception of the piece.

The painting was being showcased in the museum's Depot, a publicly accessible storage area, which highlights potential risks associated with displaying valuable artworks to the public. Jonny Helm, a marketing manager at Plowden & Smith, raised concerns about how this incident could impact UK institutions, such as V&A East and the British Museum, that are considering more open displays of previously archived works.

Restoration of Rothko's painting is anticipated to be challenging due to the specific mix of pigments and materials used in its creation. Conservators will likely begin documenting the damage while researching historic successful interventions for similar Rothko works. The art community has witnessed a series of unfortunate events affecting Rothko paintings; for instance, in 2012, Rothko's Black on Maroon was deliberately damaged at London's Tate Modern, requiring extensive restoration.

Rachel Myrtle from Aon, an art insurance company, stated that fine art insurance policies typically cover accidental damages caused by visitors, including children. When such incidents occur, an insurer appoints a fine art loss adjuster to evaluate the situation and recommend conservation options, although the museum has not released details on potential liability for this recent incident.

The museum has a history of addressing visitor-caused damages; in 2011, it billed a tourist for repairs after the individual stepped on an installation artwork. The Rothko painting itself is classified as a significant example of color field painting, a style marked by vast areas of solid color on canvas. This incident sits within a broader context of art-related accidents in the Netherlands, including other recent cases of damaged artworks.

Museums vary in their responses to damage incidents involving children; a representative for the Hecht Museum in Israel previously stated that a young child's accidental destruction of an ancient artifact would not be treated harshly, reflecting a more lenient approach to such mishaps in cultural institutions.