A visitor to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence damaged a priceless oil painting while trying to take a selfie, the museum revealed on Saturday.
The unidentified tourist leaned against the Baroque portrait Portrait of Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince Of Tuscany by Anton Domenico Gabbiani to take a photo - until the canvas gave way.
Italian broadcaster TG1 posted a video on X, which shows the painting's canvas tearing under the man's weight.
The painting is considered one of the highlights of the current exhibition. The man was identified by museum staff and reported to the police.
A photo in the local newspaper Corriere Fiorentino shows a tear in the canvas.
The museum management said that the damage is minor, however, and can be repaired. The painting was immediately removed for restoration.
Museum director Simone Verde expressed his outrage to the Italian news agency ANSA.
He said the problem of visitors coming to museums to take selfies or memes for social networks was getting out of hand.
"We will establish clear rules to prevent behaviour that is incompatible with the purpose of our institutions and respect for cultural heritage," Verde asserted.
This is not the first time that art has fallen victim to selfies.
Just recently, two visitors to the Palazzo Maffei in Verona destroyed a "Van Gogh chair" by artist Nicola Bolla, which was encrusted with Swarovski crystals.
The couple had apparently discovered the perfect photo opportunity - they sat down on the glittering sculpture, which then broke, as can be seen on a surveillance video from the museum. - dpa
