16th-century masterpiece damaged by tourist at Italian museum
While visiting a museum in Brescia, a tourist stumbled and damaged a priceless 16th-century painting. The artwork was not properly secured, according to the Ansa news agency. The incident occurred at the Santa Giulia Museum, which had been showcasing the piece to tourists this autumn. Now, the painting requires expensive restoration once again.
During a visit to the museum in Brescia, northern Italy, a tourist tripped and fell onto the 16th-century painting, causing damage. The artwork was not secured, reported Ansa. The incident took place at the Santa Giulia Museum.
The woman lost her balance and, while falling, leaned on a painting by Renaissance artist Moretto from Brescia, whose real name was Alessandro Bonvicino, tearing the canvas in the right corner.
Fortunately, the visitor was unharmed. Such incidents happen, especially given the large number of people visiting the exhibition these days - said Stefano Karadjov, director of the Brescia Museums Foundation.
The museum assured that the damage is reparable and that no irreversible harm was done. The loss is estimated at several thousand euros, and this sum will be covered by insurance. There is a chance the painting can be restored and returned to the exhibition later this year.
The artwork was displayed last October following extensive conservation efforts. The expert who carried out the conservation work was immediately called to the museum. The painting, created between 1522 and 1524, was not protected by a glass cover or any other safety measures.
Data confirms that Italy experienced a record number of tourists last year, surpassing not only the previous year's statistics but also those from the last year before the pandemic. Italy recorded 134 million tourist arrivals—a 2.3% increase from 2019 (+3 million), along with 450 million overnight stays—a 3.3% increase.
The influx of tourists is so significant that residents of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan are starting to protest. They are demanding regulatory changes from authorities to ensure that daily life is not overwhelmed by thousands of tourists.
