Palazzo Maffei in Verona seeks respect for art in light of footage showing couple damaging a bejeweled chair.
Museum Urges Patron Respect After Crystal-Studded Chair Damage
Museum Urges Patron Respect After Crystal-Studded Chair Damage
Italian museum calls for art appreciation after incident involving couple and broken chair.
In a shocking incident at the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy, a couple filmed breaking a crystal-covered chair has sparked a public outcry for greater respect towards art. The viral video shows the pair taking selfies and playfully pretending to sit on the extravagant piece, known as the "Van Gogh" chair. As the man slips and falls onto the chair, it breaks under his weight, leading to serious damage.
Following the incident—reported to have occurred in April but recently publicized—the museum has notified local police in an effort to track down the unidentified couple. Museum director Vanessa Carlon expressed her disappointment, stating, "Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don't think about the consequences." She emphasized that while the incident may have been an accident, the couple's swift departure without notifying staff was not acceptable.
The chair, designed by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and adorned with hundreds of polished Swarovski crystals, is a tribute to Vincent van Gogh's iconic representation of a simple chair. It carries significant sentimental and artistic value, prompting the museum to refrain from disclosing its monetary worth. Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at Palazzo Maffei, explained that despite its ostentatious appearance, the chair's construction is surprisingly fragile, primarily hollow and held together with foil.
Initially, two legs and the main seating area of the chair were damaged, but Menegazzo notes that restoration efforts have successfully returned it to display. The Palazzo Maffei, which opened in 2020, continues to house a range of artistic treasures, including works by Picasso and artifacts from ancient Egypt.
Carrying a message of respect, Carlon hopes that publicizing the CCTV footage will not lead to negative impressions of museum-goers, as she emphasized that most patrons treat the art with care. With a call for a more conscious approach to experiencing art, she concluded that "art must be respected and loved because it is very fragile."
Following the incident—reported to have occurred in April but recently publicized—the museum has notified local police in an effort to track down the unidentified couple. Museum director Vanessa Carlon expressed her disappointment, stating, "Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don't think about the consequences." She emphasized that while the incident may have been an accident, the couple's swift departure without notifying staff was not acceptable.
The chair, designed by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and adorned with hundreds of polished Swarovski crystals, is a tribute to Vincent van Gogh's iconic representation of a simple chair. It carries significant sentimental and artistic value, prompting the museum to refrain from disclosing its monetary worth. Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at Palazzo Maffei, explained that despite its ostentatious appearance, the chair's construction is surprisingly fragile, primarily hollow and held together with foil.
Initially, two legs and the main seating area of the chair were damaged, but Menegazzo notes that restoration efforts have successfully returned it to display. The Palazzo Maffei, which opened in 2020, continues to house a range of artistic treasures, including works by Picasso and artifacts from ancient Egypt.
Carrying a message of respect, Carlon hopes that publicizing the CCTV footage will not lead to negative impressions of museum-goers, as she emphasized that most patrons treat the art with care. With a call for a more conscious approach to experiencing art, she concluded that "art must be respected and loved because it is very fragile."
