While taking a selfie, a tourist damaged a 17th-century portrait of Ferdinando de’ Medici in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
The incident occurred when the man in question was visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, with his girlfriend. Upon approaching the portrait of Ferdinando de’ Medici, the man apparently decided to imitate the posture in the painting while taking a selfie. However, during this, he stumbled upon the barrier placed one foot before the painting to safeguard it from tourists. To break his fall, he tried to get hold of the portrait and ended up ripping away half the canvas of the painting.
The entire incident was captured on camera. The gallery said that the man was escorted from the gallery and handed over to the police. Apart from the criminal charges of causing damage to objects of cultural importance, the museum might also seek full damages for repair from the man. The portrait was made in 1690 during the rule of Ferdinando de’ Medici, who was the Grand Prince of Tuscany and a great patron of music. He hailed from the Medici family, who were bankers by profession but effectively ruled Florence through their influence.
Also Read: Well Preserved Millenia-Old Sword Goes To Display In Netherlands
Simone Verde, director of the Uffizi Gallery, said after the incident: “The problem of visitors coming to museums to create memes or take selfies for social media is now rampant. We put in place very precise rules to try to impede behaviour that is not compatible with respect for our cultural heritage.” The incident occurs soon after a similar incident in Verona, where a man broke a crystal-studded homage chair to van Gogh after sitting on it while taking a picture.
