Tourist Sued After Damaging Crystal-Covered Art Chair at Verona Museum
Verona, Italy
A museum visit took a destructive turn when a tourist broke a crystal-covered chair, a contemporary artwork, at Palazzo Maffei Museum in Verona. The museum has since filed a formal legal complaint against the individual for damaging the piece, which was both artistically and materially valuable.
On Thursday, the museum released surveillance footage showing the incident. In the video, a man can be seen sitting on the art installation while a woman—presumably a companion—snaps photos. Moments later, the chair gives way under his weight, shattering the delicate structure adorned with glass crystals.
According to museum officials, the artwork was clearly marked as “Do Not Touch,” and was cordoned off from the general seating area. The museum described the incident as “an act of negligence that reflects a growing disregard for public art spaces.”
“The work was not meant to be functional—it was a sculpture, a statement,” said a museum spokesperson. “We invest heavily in security and signage, but when visitors ignore the rules, incidents like this become inevitable.”
Palazzo Maffei, known for its eclectic collection of classical and contemporary works, emphasized that the chair was not only aesthetically significant but also structurally fragile due to its decorative materials. It is unclear whether the piece can be restored.
Legal proceedings are underway, and the museum is seeking compensation for the full cost of the artwork, as well as the disruption caused to the current exhibition. The tourist’s identity has not been released to the public.
The event has reignited conversations around tourism, respect for art spaces, and the balance between accessibility and preservation. As social media increasingly influences museum behavior, institutions are left to enforce stricter measures to protect cultural heritage from accidental—or careless—damage.
L’incubo di ogni museo è diventato realtà, anche a Palazzo Maffei.
Attesa l’uscita degli addetti alla sorveglianza, alcuni visitatori hanno scattato una foto “ad effetto”.
Il risultato? Un gesto irresponsabile ha causato gravi danni alla sedia “Van Gogh” di Nicola Bolla, un’opera delicatissima, interamente rivestita di centinaia di cristalli Swarovski.
Per giorni non abbiamo saputo se sarebbe stato possibile restaurarla.
Ma ce l’abbiamo fatta.
Condividiamo questo episodio non solo per dovere di cronaca, ma per dare avvio a una vera campagna di sensibilizzazione sul valore dell’arte e sul rispetto che le è dovuto.
Un sentito ringraziamento va alle forze dell’ordine, al nostro dipartimento di sicurezza e alle restauratrici, il cui lavoro prezioso ha permesso il recupero dell’opera.
E un grazie speciale a tutti voi che ogni giorno attraversate le sale del museo con cura, attenzione e meraviglia.
Perché l’arte non è solo da vedere.
È da amare. È da proteggere.
📍Vi aspettiamo a Palazzo Maffei.
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