A tourist has damaged a 300-year-old painting at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence after stumbling backward while attempting a selfie in front of the artwork.
The incident occurred on June 21 during a visit to the Florence and Europe: Arts of the 18th Century exhibition at the famous museum. The painting, a portrait of Ferdinando de’ Medici by Italian Baroque artist Anton Domenico Gabbiani, suffered a fist-sized tear near the prince’s right boot.
According to security footage shared by Italian media, the man appeared to be imitating the pose of the prince in the painting in an effort to create a meme. While stepping back, he lost his balance and fell into the canvas. After the impact, he stood up and casually placed his hands behind his back, seemingly pretending to simply observe the portrait.
The artwork has since been removed for restoration, with experts confirming that the damage is considered relatively minor. The exhibition itself is temporarily closed and will reopen on July 2. It is scheduled to run until November 28.
Simone Verde, director of the Uffizi Galleries, criticized the increasing trend of museum visitors prioritizing social media content over respect for cultural heritage.
“Today, a tourist wanting to make a meme in front of a painting, stepping back in a pose like the portrayed Prince of Medici, hits the surface of the work,” Verde said.
“The problem of visitors who come to museums to make memes or take selfies for social media is rampant. We will set very precise limits, preventing behaviours that are not compatible with the purpose of our institutions and respect for cultural heritage.”
The museum confirmed that the man was identified and has been reported to judicial authorities. A museum workers’ union also noted that the tourist tripped on a low platform placed to help keep viewers at a safe distance from the painting.
This is not the first case of selfie-related damage to artworks. Just recently, another tourist broke a crystal-studded artwork called Van Gogh’s Chair in a museum in Verona. And in April, a young child accidentally scratched a valuable Rothko painting at a Dutch museum in Rotterdam.
