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12-Year-Boy Trips And Punches Hole In $1.5 Million Painting From 17th Century
This Sunday in Tapei a 12-year-old boy tripped and punched a hole through a 17th century painting valued $1.5 million dollars. The boy was on a guided tour of “The Face of Leonardo, Images of a Genius” exhibit at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park.
“This is just a simple accident please don’t blame a 12 year-old child,” TST wrote on Facebook. Insurance will cover the restoration costs, which are being done in Taiwan before the painting is sent back to Italy.
More info: Facebook (h/t: focustaiwan, theguardian)
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Video credits: CNA
“Once these works are damaged, they are permanently damaged,” says the exhibition’s Facebook page
“The boy’s hand made contact with the artwork and left a hole the size of a fist”
“The painting’s bottom right is damaged”
“When we start working on the painting’s restoration, the priority is to strengthen its structure”
“not retouching the paint on the damaged area”
“This is just a simple accident please don’t blame a 12 year-old child”
Insurance will cover the restoration costs before the piece is shipped back to Italy
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What do you think ?
LynnPacione-Holman 10 years ago
Put these irreplaceable pieces of art behind shatterproof glass; put them at least 6 feet away from any human contact; rope off a perimeter of at least 7 feet from the work of art. And, for chrissake, DON'T ALLOW FOOD INSIDE THE EXHIBITS. All beings entering exhibits should also be capable of practicing self-restraint and restraint of other beings that cannot self-restrain well (like kids under 10, people who are acting inappropriately, etc.). While I cannot in good conscience blame the fumbling kid, I sure as sh*t can still be upset about all of this foolishness. We protect things and people that cannot protect themselves...so why put any works of art in potential harm's way? Still, when all's said and done... GOOD one, doofus. >.< *head-desks about 50 times*
ThomasO'Keefe 10 years ago
The piece was damaged because the museum had placed a wooden structure on the floor in front of the painting. The boy was merely trying circumnavigate around the unnecessary obstruction and lost his footing. Aside from being cost prohibitive, I would not step foot inside any art museum that covered the works in shatterproof glass. I might as well look a photograph. You think the art should be roped off and kept 7 feet from people? No offense but that's absurd. Art is created to be observed not concealed. There are millions of works of art being displayed and viewed daily. If there were an epidemic of art accidents constantly happening than there would be need for more draconian measures. As it is, art is generally protected well. Displaying art is hardly on the scale of putting it in harms way. It's one painting. It's unfortunate. Take a pill and move on. Jezz.
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BenTanner 10 years ago
Why would you go to a museum if you can just look through a screen? It's because paint has texture, it's not just a painting but a sculpture of paint.
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Leo 10 years ago
Isn't it "Taipei" not "Tapei"? Anyway - I don't think they will ever be getting any precious pieces of art again. I though it was a rule valid in every museum on the planet that people should not be allowed with food and drinks inside. And that every measure should be taken so that visitors can observe without tripping and falling on top of the objects. Shame on this museum!
MaciejMelcher 10 years ago
What was the point of having that white 'box' on the floor right in front of that painting? Weren't barriers enough? I know they're attached to it, but it all would have not happened if it weren't for this thing.
SharaGuinesso 10 years ago
it was an accident, unfortunately for the location of the accident but either way. If they are not mad at the boy we shouldn't be either. And for "extra safety" they could always put up a good barrier. Maybe not the red rope but maybe short walls. Maybe if they had short walls he would have been able to catch himself on that, and not the painting... just a thought.
SapphireDolphin10 9 years ago
Stop hating and cyber bullying people who make mistakes! You could be in the same situation!
LynnPacione-Holman 10 years ago
Put these irreplaceable pieces of art behind shatterproof glass; put them at least 6 feet away from any human contact; rope off a perimeter of at least 7 feet from the work of art. And, for chrissake, DON'T ALLOW FOOD INSIDE THE EXHIBITS. All beings entering exhibits should also be capable of practicing self-restraint and restraint of other beings that cannot self-restrain well (like kids under 10, people who are acting inappropriately, etc.). While I cannot in good conscience blame the fumbling kid, I sure as sh*t can still be upset about all of this foolishness. We protect things and people that cannot protect themselves...so why put any works of art in potential harm's way? Still, when all's said and done... GOOD one, doofus. >.< *head-desks about 50 times*
ThomasO'Keefe 10 years ago
The piece was damaged because the museum had placed a wooden structure on the floor in front of the painting. The boy was merely trying circumnavigate around the unnecessary obstruction and lost his footing. Aside from being cost prohibitive, I would not step foot inside any art museum that covered the works in shatterproof glass. I might as well look a photograph. You think the art should be roped off and kept 7 feet from people? No offense but that's absurd. Art is created to be observed not concealed. There are millions of works of art being displayed and viewed daily. If there were an epidemic of art accidents constantly happening than there would be need for more draconian measures. As it is, art is generally protected well. Displaying art is hardly on the scale of putting it in harms way. It's one painting. It's unfortunate. Take a pill and move on. Jezz.
Load More Replies... BenTanner 10 years ago
Why would you go to a museum if you can just look through a screen? It's because paint has texture, it's not just a painting but a sculpture of paint.
Load More Replies... Leo 10 years ago
Isn't it "Taipei" not "Tapei"? Anyway - I don't think they will ever be getting any precious pieces of art again. I though it was a rule valid in every museum on the planet that people should not be allowed with food and drinks inside. And that every measure should be taken so that visitors can observe without tripping and falling on top of the objects. Shame on this museum!
MaciejMelcher 10 years ago
What was the point of having that white 'box' on the floor right in front of that painting? Weren't barriers enough? I know they're attached to it, but it all would have not happened if it weren't for this thing.
SharaGuinesso 10 years ago
it was an accident, unfortunately for the location of the accident but either way. If they are not mad at the boy we shouldn't be either. And for "extra safety" they could always put up a good barrier. Maybe not the red rope but maybe short walls. Maybe if they had short walls he would have been able to catch himself on that, and not the painting... just a thought.
SapphireDolphin10 9 years ago
Stop hating and cyber bullying people who make mistakes! You could be in the same situation!
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