A visitor at the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy, accidentally damaged a delicate art piece by sitting on it. The artwork, a chair covered in Swarovski crystals, was created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh's famous painting of his own chair. It was a visual installation and not meant for anyone to use physically.
Museum security footage showed the tourist sitting on the chair after waiting for staff to leave the room. The chair broke under his weight, and both the man and his companion left without reporting the damage. Museum officials later released the video, expressing concern over the growing disregard for art in public spaces.
Museum Restores Artwork and Raises Awareness
The damaged chair was later repaired by a professional team. The museum thanked its conservators and local authorities for helping in the restoration and identification of the visitors involved. The museum’s leadership reminded the public that artworks on display are not to be touched or used unless specifically stated.
Incidents like this highlight a growing issue in museums, where visitors ignore rules to take photos or interact with art. The museum hopes this serves as a lesson for future visitors to respect art and understand its value, both culturally and historically.
🔥🚨BREAKING This ‘Idiot’ tourist sits on and shatters ‘Van Gogh’ chair made with thousands of Swarovski crystals. pic.twitter.com/nm2WxeKtlL
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) June 13, 2025
Main Takeaways:
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The chair was a decorative artwork, not designed for sitting.
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Artist Nicola Bolla made the piece using Swarovski crystals.
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A visitor broke the chair while attempting to pose for a photo.
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Skilled conservators restored the damaged artwork.
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The museum released the video to promote respect for art and exhibitions.
