A tourist at Verona’s Palazzo Maffei museum accidentally damaged a delicate Swarovski crystal-encrusted sculpture, the “Van Gogh” chair by Nicola Bolla, while posing for a photo, ignoring posted rules against touching exhibits. The incident, captured on surveillance footage, has sparked outrage, as reported by Palazzo Maffei on June 14, 2025.
Surveillance footage showed a male visitor sitting fully on the artwork, inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom, causing it to collapse. Unlike his female companion, who mimicked a seated pose, he disregarded warnings and sat directly on the piece. The couple fled the scene after the incident. Palazzo Maffei condemned the act as “superficial” and “disrespectful,” noting the visitors waited for staff to leave before acting.
⏯️ Um episódio de descuido viralizou nas redes sociais após um turista quebrar uma obra de arte no museu Palazzo Maffei, em Verona, na Itália.
O homem se sentou na “Cadeira de Van Gogh”, do artista Nicola Bolla, feita com cristais Swarovski, para tirar uma foto, provocando a… pic.twitter.com/LmXIiJvj94
— Metrópoles (@Metropoles) June 13, 2025Initially feared irreparable, the sculpture was successfully restored, thanks to the efforts of museum security, law enforcement, and restoration experts. “For days, we didn’t know if it would be possible to restore it. But we did it,” a staff member shared in Italian on social media. The repair costs remain undisclosed, and whether the responsible couple will face legal or financial consequences is unclear.
Palazzo Maffei’s public statement emphasised the disregard for cultural heritage: “They ignored every rule of respect for art.” Online reactions on social media platforms were strong, with users condemning the tourists’ behaviour and calling for stricter museum enforcement. Many praised the restoration team’s success but urged better visitor education on exhibit etiquette.
The incident highlights the importance of respecting cultural artefacts in museums, especially fragile works like Bolla’s sculpture. It reminds visitors to follow guidelines to preserve art for future generations.
