Crystal-covered ‘Van Gogh’ chair back on display after tourist crushes it

A precious piece of art dubbed the “Van Gogh chair" is back on display after a tourist crushed it while posing for a picture. — Image credit: Palazzo Mafei

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Summary

Art damage

A tourist attempted to sit on the "Van Gogh" chair, an art piece by Nicola Bolla, causing the chair — made from thousands of Swarovski crystals — to crumble under his weight.

Museum response

The Palazzo Maffei publicly addressed the incident on social media, stating, "They ignored every rule of respect for art and cultural heritage."

Restoration efforts

In a subsequent update, the museum shared that the "Van Gogh" chair was successfully repaired, expressing gratitude toward those involved in the restoration process.

Full story

A precious piece of art is back on display after a tourist crushed it while posing for a picture. The “Van Gogh” chair by Nicola Bolla is made from thousands of Swarovski crystals.

Museum security video shows a man attempting to sit on the chair for a picture.

Credit: Palazzo Maffei Verona via Storyful

As soon as he sits, the chair crumbles under his weight and he loses his balance. The tourist is seen trying to hold on to the wall with both hands so he doesn’t fall. The couple then quickly leaves the room after damaging the chair.

The Palazzo Maffei in Verona took to social media to shame the tourists. “They ignored every rule of respect for art and cultural heritage,” the museum posted.

A happy ending

In the days following the incident, the museum posted an update –– the chair has been repaired.

“A heartfelt thanks goes to the police, our security department and the restorers, whose precious work allowed the work to be recovered.”

The story behind the chair

The art piece was named the “Van Gogh” chair, as it resembles a chair in one of the legendary Dutch painter’s most famous pieces. The museum described it as an extremely delicate piece of work, covered entirely in crystals.

Tags: Art, Italy, Social Media

Why this story matters

An incident in which tourists damaged a fragile art piece while taking a photo highlights the ongoing challenges of preserving cultural heritage amid increasing visitor interactions and the influence of social media.

Museum etiquette

Respect for rules in cultural institutions is essential to prevent accidental damage to valuable artworks, as demonstrated when the tourists ignored clear guidelines and sat on the artwork.

Preservation of art

The incident underscores the fragility of unique artworks and the efforts needed to restore and safeguard them, with the museum's director commenting that restoring the piece required days of uncertainty and specialized work.

Impact of tourism and social media

Tourist behavior driven by the desire for memorable photos can put cultural property at risk, raising broader questions about responsible tourism and the consequences of seeking social media attention, according to commentary and public reaction referenced across outlets.

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Synthesized coverage insights across 29 media outlets

Community reaction

Many articles note strong negative reactions on social media, with users condemning the tourists' behavior as disrespectful. According to various sources, museum staff and the public expressed dismay, with commentary emphasizing that art is to be respected, valued and protected, not treated as a prop for photographs.

Context corner

The incident highlights ongoing concerns in the museum world regarding tourists damaging artwork while attempting photos. Previous cases are cited where tourists caused harm to art pieces in Italy and abroad. This context underscores debate over balancing visitor engagement and the protection of cultural heritage in an era when taking photos has become routine museum behavior.

Quote bank

Museum director Vanessa Carlon is quoted saying, “Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don't think about the consequences.” The museum also shared, “Every museum’s nightmare has become reality.” Social media users reacted harshly with remarks such as “Idiots! I hope they are reported!” emphasizing the strong emotional response.

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left frame the incident primarily as a cultural critique, emphasizing the damaging effects of modern individualism and consumerism on artistic heritage, using emotionally charged words like “destroys” and “ruins” to highlight the threat to cultural preservation.
Media outlets in the center soften judgments, concentrating on the museum’s restorative efforts and calls for awareness without sizable blame, thus offering a more neutral tone.
Media outlets on the right focus on individual moral failings, deploying harsh language such as “senseless,” “idiot,” and “irresponsible” to condemn the tourists’ behavior as emblematic of broader social decay linked to performative social media culture.

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Media landscape

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29 total sources

Key points from the Left

No summary available because of a lack of coverage.

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No coverage from Far Left sources 0 sources
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See Hide headlines from Lean Left sources 2 sources
- Tourist shatters priceless Van Gogh chair by sitting on it
  Metro News
- Verona, Destroys Van Gogh's Chair to Take a Picture: when the Selfie Ruins the Art
  La Repubblica

Key points from the Center

In April 2025, a male visitor sitting on a delicate Swarovski crystal–adorned chair named "Van Gogh" caused the art piece to break at an exhibition housed in Palazzo Maffei, an art museum located in Verona.
The couple intentionally delayed their actions until after the museum employees had departed, disregarding all protocols for respecting art and cultural heritage.
The museum released CCTV footage on June 12 and described the act as irresponsible and superficial, confirming two legs and the main seat of the chair were broken during the damage.
Museum Director Vanessa Carlon explained that people often act impulsively when trying to capture photos without considering the potential impact, describing the incident as a distressing situation for any museum.
Despite initial uncertainty, the museum managed to restore the chair with help from police, security and restoration experts, but consequences for the couple remain unclear.

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See Hide headlines from Center sources 6 sources

Key points from the Right

A tourist caused serious damage to Nicola Bolla's "Van Gogh" chair, which buckled under his weight, as captured in CCTV footage at the Maffei Palace in Verona.
The museum described the chair as "extremely fragile and delicate," and emphasized the need for respect for art after the incident.
With help from restorers and law enforcement, the damaged chair has been restored to its original condition.
The museum's social media post described the event as "every museum's nightmare" and urged visitors to treat art galleries with respect.

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