Tourist Sits on Crystal-Studded ‘Van Gogh’ Chair at Italian Art Gallery, Causing Damage
A shocking incident has occurred at the Maffei Palace in Verona, Italy, where a tourist was caught on CCTV sitting on a crystal-studded ‘Van Gogh’ chair exhibit, causing it to buckle under his weight. The chair, designed by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, is covered with hundreds of Swarovski crystals and is described as “extremely fragile and delicate” by local media.
According to The Daily Mail, the tourist, along with a woman, had been posing for a photo in the otherwise empty room when he decided to sit on the chair. The chair immediately bent back into the wall, leaving it in a crooked state. The pair quickly scurried out of the room, leaving behind a damaged piece of art.
The incident was captured on CCTV, and the footage has been shared widely. In the footage, the man can be seen hovering above the exhibit before placing himself down on it. The chair’s crystals were not able to withstand the weight, and it buckled under the pressure.
The museum’s social media accounts released a statement describing the “nightmare” situation. “Every museum’s nightmare has become reality, even in Palazzo Maffei,” they said. “Waiting for the surveillance officers to come out, some visitors took an ‘in effect’ photo. The result? An irresponsible gesture caused serious damage to Nicola Bolla’s ‘Van Gogh’ chair, a very delicate work, covered entirely with hundreds of Swarovski crystals.”
The museum was in crisis for days, unsure if they could repair the chair given the severity of the damage. However, thanks to the efforts of restorers and Italian law enforcement, the museum has announced that the piece is shining once again. “We are sharing this episode not only for the sake of reporting, but to start a real campaign to raise awareness about the value of art and the respect it deserves,” they said.
This incident highlights a growing concern about tourists behaving badly while visiting Italy’s historic sites. From defacing ancient relics to causing public nuisances, many tourists have faced fines and even the wrath of Italian authorities.
One notable incident involved two Australian tourists who were filmed speeding down Venice’s Grand Canal on electric hydrofoils. The pair were reprimanded and fined €3,000 for their antics and were expelled from the city. Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, offered a free dinner to anyone who could help identify the pair, saying, “Here are two overbearing imbeciles who make a mockery of the City.”
Another incident involved a tourist who belly-flopped 30ft into Venice’s canals. The tourist was dubbed a “cretin” who should be “kicked up the backside” after the video was filmed and put on social media. Mayor Brugnaro slammed the man’s behavior, saying, “We should give a certificate of stupidity and a good number of kicks up the backside to this individual.”
The Colosseum in Rome has also been a target for vandals. In January 2017, the Colosseum was vandalised with black spray paint, with the name ‘Balto’ and the word ‘Morte’ (death) sprayed onto a pillar. A similar incident occurred in 2014 when a Russian tourist was fined €20,000 for engraving a giant letter ‘K’ onto the historic wall.
In 2020, an Irish tourist was arrested for defacing the Colosseum with his initials. The man’s two initials, about 6 centimeters (2 inches) high, were carved with a metal point on a pillar of the first floor. Archaeologist Federica Rinaldi said people who carve their initials into the monument want to “appropriation” it.
Finally, two British tourists stripped and posed for photos in Rome’s Trevi Fountain in August 2018. The tourists’ behavior was considered so egregious that it helped enforce a 24/7 guard around a number of monuments, including the iconic Trevi Fountain, until the end of the 2018 summer. Vice Mayor Luca Bergamo said the incident “offended every one of us, including our country and the dead who are honoured by the monument.”
Source: The Daily Mail – Moment tourist sits on crystal-studded ‘Van Gogh’ chair at exhibit in Verona art gallery
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