A video of a tourist sitting on a delicate art piece for the sake of a photo, only to break it, has gone viral on social media. The incident took place at the Maffei Palace in Verona, Italy, where Nicola Bolla’s crystal-studded ‘Van Gogh’ chair was on display.
The piece, named after the Dutch painter, is described by local media as “extremely fragile” and was covered in hundreds of Swarovski crystals.
The CCTV clip shows the man and woman entering an empty exhibition room. The woman posed near the chair, pretending to sit for a picture. But the man decided to go all in. He hovered briefly, then dropped himself onto the chair. Within seconds, it buckled under his weight, bending backward into the wall.
The video also shows the man grabbing onto the wall for support while the woman rushed to help him up. Instead of informing the gallery staff, the pair quietly fled the room.
The museum later shared the clip on Instagram, calling it a “nightmare come true”. “An irresponsible gesture caused serious damage to Nicola Bolla’s ‘Van Gogh’ chair,” the post read. “We’re sharing this to raise awareness about respecting art,” it added.
They added that it had taken days to determine whether the piece could be restored. Thankfully, restorers managed to salvage it.
“A heartfelt thank you to the police, our security team, and the restorers whose work enabled the recovery,” the statement said.
Watch the video here:
Social media users weren’t forgiving. A section of the internet called out the tourist for his careless behaviour, while others said incidents like this prove people value photo ops over genuine appreciation for art.
“Well let’s hope the culprits have been identified and held accountable,” a user said, while another added, “Unfortunately too many people enter museums just for a shot to post on social media and not because they have a real interest in art, which explains the ignorance and total lack of respect for places and works.”
While the damage was eventually reversed, the museum hasn’t confirmed whether the tourists will be held liable. For now, it serves as yet another reminder that art galleries are not your personal selfie sets.