In a recent incident at Florence's Uffizi Gallery, an 18th-century painting was reportedly damaged when a visitor tripped while trying to take a selfie. The artwork in question is a portrait of Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany, painted by Anton Domenico Gabbiani. Museum officials explained that the tourist, attempting to "make a meme in front" of the artwork, fell backward, leading to the damage. Fortunately, the gallery stated that the restoration could be completed swiftly.
Selfie Culture Threatens Art: A 18th-Century Painting Damaged at Uffizi Gallery
Selfie Culture Threatens Art: A 18th-Century Painting Damaged at Uffizi Gallery
A tourist's selfie attempt leads to damage of a historical artwork, sparking calls for stricter museum regulations.
Simone Verde, the Uffizi Gallery director, expressed concern over the increasing trend of visitors using museum visits for social media opportunities, stating, "The problem of visitors coming to museums to make memes or take selfies for social media is rampant." As a response to this incident, Verde indicated that the museum might implement stricter behavior guidelines to preserve the integrity of cultural heritage.
The portrait was part of the exhibition titled "Florence and Europe: Arts of the Eighteenth Century," which features around 150 art pieces. Unfortunately, following the incident, the exhibition will be closed until July 2nd for repairs, with plans to resume until its original end date of November 28th. Meanwhile, the police have identified the visitor and have reported them to judicial authorities for their reckless behavior.
Earlier in the year, another incident occurred at Palazzo Maffei in Verona, where a man fell onto a jeweled chair by artist Nicola Bolla while taking photos, raising further concerns about the interaction between modern photo culture and preserving art. As museum directors ponder the ramifications of excessive selfie-taking, they remain vigilant about maintaining respect for precious cultural assets.
The portrait was part of the exhibition titled "Florence and Europe: Arts of the Eighteenth Century," which features around 150 art pieces. Unfortunately, following the incident, the exhibition will be closed until July 2nd for repairs, with plans to resume until its original end date of November 28th. Meanwhile, the police have identified the visitor and have reported them to judicial authorities for their reckless behavior.
Earlier in the year, another incident occurred at Palazzo Maffei in Verona, where a man fell onto a jeweled chair by artist Nicola Bolla while taking photos, raising further concerns about the interaction between modern photo culture and preserving art. As museum directors ponder the ramifications of excessive selfie-taking, they remain vigilant about maintaining respect for precious cultural assets.
