Tourists' Photo Op Turns Costly as Crystal Chair Breaks in Verona Museum

Thu Oct 16 2025 15:24:45 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Two visitors' attempt at a memorable photo leads to the destruction of an artwork in Italy, raising questions about respect for art and accountability.

Authorities investigate an incident where a man sat on a fragile crystal-covered chair at a Verona museum, causing damage. The museum hopes to find the individuals responsible to encourage accountability.

In a baffling incident at the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy, two tourists turned a lighthearted photo opportunity into a moment of costly carelessness. The couple was captured on security footage attempting to take a picture with a chair adorned in Swarovski crystals, an homage to a seat depicted in a famous Vincent van Gogh painting. While posing, the man misjudged the chair's weight limit and inadvertently sat down, leading to its swift disintegration under his weight.

This incident, which occurred earlier this spring, was brought to light this week when the museum released the CCTV footage in hopes of prompting the duo to step forward. Despite the mishap being deemed an accident, museum officials confirmed that the police have been notified. However, attempts to identify the individuals responsible have so far been unsuccessful.

Vanessa Carlon, the museum's director, expressed her concerns regarding the boundaries some will push for a memorable snapshot. "It wasn’t such a brilliant thought to sit on an artwork," she remarked in a phone interview. The palace's primary concern now is not just the repair of the chair, but also the lesson this incident brings about accountability in the preservation of art and respect for cultural property.

As this story circulates online, it poses larger questions about visitor interactions with art installations and the responsibilities that come with engaging in public exhibits.