A visitor to an Italian art gallery has been filmed damaging a valuable artwork adorned with crystals after sitting on it to take a photograph.
The incident occurred at Maffei Palace in Verona, where the tourist was captured on security cameras placing his full weight on the delicate exhibit.
The artwork buckled immediately under the man's weight, leaving the piece in a damaged state.
CCTV footage shows the visitor and a female companion approaching the unguarded exhibit before the destructive photo opportunity took place, with the pair quickly leaving the room after the damage occurred.
The tourist initially posed for a photo on the chair
Palazzo Maffei Verona
He placed his full body weight on the chair, which then collapsed
Palazzo Maffei Verona
The damaged piece is a chair named after the renowned Dutch painter Van Gogh, created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla.
The artwork features hundreds of Swarovski crystals covering its entire surface and is housed within Verona's Maffei Palace.
Local media have characterised the piece as "extremely fragile and delicate", highlighting its vulnerability to physical contact.
The security footage reveals the couple entering the otherwise deserted gallery room and approaching the eye-catching chair.
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Another angle shows how the chair folds in on itself
Palazzo Maffei Verona
Initially, the woman positioned herself in front of the artwork, creating an optical illusion for the camera that suggested she was seated without making contact.
The man then decided to go beyond this careful approach, hovering momentarily above the exhibit before lowering himself onto it.
The chair instantly bent backwards against the wall, leaving it visibly misshapen.
Following the damage, the pair hastily exited the room, their irresponsible actions captured entirely on the gallery's surveillance system.
The pair hastily left the scene, leaving the chair in a crumbled mess
Palazzo Maffei Verona
The museum addressed the incident through their social media channels, describing it as "every museum's nightmare" that had "become reality".
They explained that visitors had taken an "in effect" photo whilst "waiting for the surveillance officers to come out", resulting in what they called "an irresponsible gesture" that "caused serious damage".
Following days of uncertainty about whether repairs were possible, the museum announced that "restorers who did a fantastic job" had successfully restored the artwork.
They confirmed "the piece is shining once again", thanks to the restoration team and Italian law enforcement who assisted.
It added: "We are sharing this episode not only for the sake of reporting, but to start a real campaign to raise awareness about the value of art and the respect it deserves."
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