The incident occurred at the Uffizi's exhibition titled "Florence and Europe: Arts of the Eighteenth Century," which features approximately 150 artworks. In the wake of the mishap, the gallery closed the exhibition until July 2 for repairs. The offending visitor has been identified and reported to local law enforcement. The exhibition is scheduled to resume after the repair, continuing until November 28. This isn't the first instance of art damage due to selfies; earlier this year, a visitor at Palazzo Maffei in Verona fell while posing with a bejeweled chair, prompting museum officials to reflect on the hazards of social media antics in cultural settings.
Museum Visitor's Selfie Mishap Damages Historic Portrait
Museum Visitor's Selfie Mishap Damages Historic Portrait
A selfie-taking incident at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery has led to the damage of an 18th-century painting, prompting potential new visitor restrictions.
The esteemed Uffizi Gallery in Florence witnessed an unfortunate accident recently when a visitor attempting to capture a selfie lost their balance and damaged a historic portrait. The 18th-century oil painting, depicting Ferdinando de' Medici by artist Anton Domenico Gabbiani, was reportedly harmed as the tourist fell while trying to create a meme-style image. The museum stated that the damage could be resolved swiftly, yet director Simone Verde indicated this incident might lead to stricter regulations regarding visitor conduct. He highlighted the growing trend of guests prioritizing social media content over respect for cultural artifacts.
