In brief
A water leak at the Louvre has led to damage of the ceiling painting 'The Apotheosis of Poussin, Le Sueur and Le Brun' by Charles Meynier. Discovered late Thursday, the leak from a heating pipe affected only this piece, but follows a series of recent issues at the museum, including ticket fraud arrests and prior leaks resulting in damage to books. Scaffolding has been erected in the affected area for repairs, although the building's structure remains intact.
A water leak at the Louvre has caused damage to a 19th Century ceiling painting, in the latest major setback for the Parisian museum. The leak, discovered in room 707, also known as the 'Duchâtel' room, took place late Thursday night. This room houses numerous 15th and 16th Century artworks.The Louvre reported that the leak, stemming from a heating pipe, was stopped shortly after midnight, yet only one painting was harmed: Charles Meynier's 'The Apotheosis of Poussin, Le Sueur and Le Brun'. This incident followed the arrest of nine individuals, including two museum staff, over a possible ticket fraud scheme.In light of increasing scrutiny, museum authorities are facing pressure after recent events, including a bold daylight theft of priceless jewels from the facility and multiple leaks that have caused damage to books and artworks.The leak occurred near the paintings department in the Denon wing, with firefighters responding swiftly to contain the situation 40 minutes after it began. A painting restorer later inspected Meynier's work, identifying two tears and paint lifting, although the chief architect assessed that there were no structural issues with the ceiling.The affected rooms are expected to reopen shortly after scaffolding is set up for repairs. This latest incident adds to a list of issues faced by the Louvre, drawing attention to the maintenance challenges at the iconic museum.
