The painting is part of the "Florence and Europe: Arts of the Eighteenth Century" exhibition, which has temporarily closed until July 2 to allow for repairs. Following the incident, the police have identified the visitor and alerted judicial authorities. This exhibition features approximately 150 artworks and is scheduled to continue until November 28. Earlier this year, a similar incident occurred at Palazzo Maffei in Verona, where a man fell onto an artwork while taking pictures, highlighting a troubling pattern of careless behavior regarding art displays. Museum officials underscore the importance of maintaining respect toward historical works amidst new social media trends.
Selfie Mishap: 18th Century Painting Damaged at Uffizi Gallery
Selfie Mishap: 18th Century Painting Damaged at Uffizi Gallery
A tourist's selfie attempt leads to a historic artwork being damaged, prompting museum officials to reconsider visitor policies.
An 18th-century oil painting suffered damage at Florence's Uffizi Gallery after a visitor fell while trying to take a selfie. The incident occurred when the tourist reportedly tripped backward while posing in front of the portrait of Ferdinando de' Medici, created by Anton Domenico Gabbiani. The museum announced that while the damage was reparable, director Simone Verde indicated that tighter restrictions on visitor activities might be necessary in the future. Verde stressed the growing trend of visitors using museums primarily for social media content, noting, "We will set very precise limits to ensure respect for our cultural heritage."
