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 was discovered in room 707, also known as the 'Duchâtel' room, late on Thursday night. This room houses multiple 15th and 16th Century artworks.
The museum confirmed that the leak, caused by a heating pipe, was halted shortly after midnight, with only one artwork, 'The Apotheosis of Poussin, Le Sueur and Le Brun' by Charles Meynier, suffering damage. This incident comes on the heels of French police detaining nine individuals, two of whom are museum staff, over a suspected ticket fraud scheme.
In recent months, the Louvre has come under increased scrutiny due to various issues, including thefts of priceless French crown jewels and the damage of hundreds of books due to a previous leak. The Louvre's management appears to face mounting challenges as the museum continues to address both security and structural integrity concerns.
The leak occurred at the entrance to the paintings department in the Denon wing. Firefighters responded immediately, stopping the leak in approximately 40 minutes. Following inspection, a painting restorer reported that Meynier's ceiling painting endured 'two tears in the same area' and the paint layer on the ceiling had lifted.
Although rooms 706, 707, and 708 in the Denon wing were closed, they are expected to reopen shortly. An assessment by the chief architect of historic monuments found no structural issues with the building itself. However, a union representative indicated that scaffolding has been erected in the affected area. The extent of the damage and the cost of repairs remain uncertain.
This water leak adds to a series of problems experienced by the Louvre, which remains the most visited museum in the world. Previous incidents include a December leak damaging 300-400 books in the Egyptian department, with ongoing concerns about the museum's overall maintenance continuing to gain media attention.
The museum confirmed that the leak, caused by a heating pipe, was halted shortly after midnight, with only one artwork, 'The Apotheosis of Poussin, Le Sueur and Le Brun' by Charles Meynier, suffering damage. This incident comes on the heels of French police detaining nine individuals, two of whom are museum staff, over a suspected ticket fraud scheme.
In recent months, the Louvre has come under increased scrutiny due to various issues, including thefts of priceless French crown jewels and the damage of hundreds of books due to a previous leak. The Louvre's management appears to face mounting challenges as the museum continues to address both security and structural integrity concerns.
The leak occurred at the entrance to the paintings department in the Denon wing. Firefighters responded immediately, stopping the leak in approximately 40 minutes. Following inspection, a painting restorer reported that Meynier's ceiling painting endured 'two tears in the same area' and the paint layer on the ceiling had lifted.
Although rooms 706, 707, and 708 in the Denon wing were closed, they are expected to reopen shortly. An assessment by the chief architect of historic monuments found no structural issues with the building itself. However, a union representative indicated that scaffolding has been erected in the affected area. The extent of the damage and the cost of repairs remain uncertain.
This water leak adds to a series of problems experienced by the Louvre, which remains the most visited museum in the world. Previous incidents include a December leak damaging 300-400 books in the Egyptian department, with ongoing concerns about the museum's overall maintenance continuing to gain media attention.
