Tourist damages historic painting while trying to take a selfie

In Italy, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence faced a significant incident on June 21, 2025, when a visitor accidentally damaged a 300-year-old painting while trying to capture a photo. The artwork, a portrait of Ferdinando de’ Medici painted by Anton Domenico Gabbiani in 1712, sustained a tear in the canvas after the visitor tripped while posing for a photo. Eye-witness accounts and security footage revealed that the individual leaned back to pose and lost balance, falling into the painting. National media highlighted the issue of tourists behaving carelessly in cultural spaces, with museum director Simone Verde criticizing the growing trend of visitors prioritizing social media interactions over respect for art. Following the incident, the Uffizi Gallery announced that the damaged painting would undergo repairs, and the exhibition would remain closed until further notice. The police identified the individual responsible for the damage, leading to a prosecution for causing culpable damage. The incident also drew attention to the broader problem of cultural heritage preservation, with Verde stating that stricter guidelines for visitor behavior would likely be considered to prevent future mishaps. This event was not an isolated one; earlier in June, another incident at the Palazzo Maffei in Verona resulted in a similar situation where a chair by artist Nicola Bolla was shattered when visitors posed for pictures. The Verona museum's director shared concerns about the frequent loss of awareness among visitors, which leads to such unfortunate occurrences. The Uffizi's focus on repairing the damaged painting and potentially implementing new rules highlights the need for a balanced approach in promoting art appreciation while ensuring the safety of cultural artifacts.