In a shocking incident at the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy, security footage captured two tourists damaging a delicate work of art, the “Van Gogh” chair, created by artist Nicola Bolla. The chair, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s 1888 painting Van Gogh’s Chair, is adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals and is not designed to be sat on. The museum recently released the footage to highlight the importance of respecting art after the pair fled the scene without reporting the damage.
The Incident Unfolds
The security video shows a man and a woman posing for photos with the fragile chair, which was clearly marked with a “do not touch” sign and placed on a pedestal to indicate it was a work of art, not a functional seat. The chair’s hollow frame, encrusted with sparkling Swarovski crystals, makes it particularly vulnerable, as explained by art historian Carlotta Menegazzo in an interview with the BBC.
Initially, the couple avoided direct contact with the sculpture while taking pictures. However, the situation took a turn when the man, attempting to mimic sitting on the chair, slipped and fell, crashing onto the artwork. The impact shattered the seat and broke the chair’s two front legs. Instead of alerting museum staff, the pair quickly left the premises, leaving the damaged artwork behind.
“Of course it was an accident, but these two people left without speaking to us — that isn’t an accident,” said Vanessa Carlon, director of Palazzo Maffei. “Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don’t think about the consequences. This is a nightmare for any museum.”
A Fragile Masterpiece Restored
Fortunately, the “Van Gogh” chair was not beyond repair. Skilled restorers worked to mend the damage, and the piece has been returned to its place on display. While the museum has not disclosed the chair’s estimated value, its artistic and material significance, given the intricate Swarovski crystal design, underscores the severity of the incident.
The museum has since contacted the police, but the identities of the two tourists remain unknown. It is unclear whether they will face legal consequences for their actions.
A Broader Problem of Art Vandalism
The incident at Palazzo Maffei is part of a troubling pattern of tourists damaging cultural treasures. In October 2022, an American tourist destroyed two ancient sculptures at the Vatican out of frustration over not being able to see the Pope. A year later, another American was arrested for smashing Roman statues in a Jerusalem museum. In June 2022, Brian Hernandez broke into a Dallas art museum and damaged several Greek artifacts in a fit of anger over a personal dispute.
Beyond museums, historic sites have also been targeted. In 2023, a tourist carved his name into the 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome, and a similar act of vandalism occurred in Pompeii in 2024, with the responsible individual ordered to pay for restoration. In April 2024, a London-based parkour group damaged a historic building in Matera, Italy, during stunts. More recently, in May 2025, a man in China jumped into a pit containing the Terracotta Army, toppling two of the iconic warriors.
A Call for Respect
The incident at Palazzo Maffei, which occurred in April 2025, prompted the museum to release the footage to raise awareness about the need for caution and respect when visiting art exhibitions. Vanessa Carlon emphasized that while most visitors are considerate, incidents like this highlight the fragility of art and the importance of mindfulness.
“Art must be respected and loved because it is very fragile,” Carlon urged. “Anyone should enter art places, or museums or churches, wherever art is displayed, in a more respectful way.”
The restored “Van Gogh” chair now stands as a reminder of both the beauty of art and the responsibility of those who view it. The museum hopes this incident will encourage visitors to approach cultural treasures with the care they deserve.