Selfie Mishap: 18th Century Painting Damaged at Florence Museum

Tue Oct 14 2025 22:18:08 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A tourist's fall while taking a selfie leads to damage of a historic artwork, sparking calls for stricter museum regulations.

In a surprising turn of events at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, an 18th-century oil painting was reportedly damaged by a visitor seeking the perfect selfie. The incident occurred when the tourist lost balance while trying to capture a photo in front of Ferdinando de' Medici's portrait, painted by Anton Domenico Gabbiani. According to the gallery, the damage is repairable, but museum director Simone Verde indicated that such incidents could lead to stricter regulations on visitor behavior.

Verde highlighted the growing trend of museum-goers prioritizing social media moments over the reverence traditionally afforded to cultural relics. He stated, "The problem of visitors coming to museums to make memes or take selfies for social media is rampant." Following the incident, the gallery has reported the visitor to police and judicial authorities. The exhibition titled "Florence and Europe: Arts of the Eighteenth Century," featuring about 150 artworks, will remain closed until July 2 for repairs, after which it is set to resume until November 28. This incident follows a similar occurrence earlier this year at Palazzo Maffei, where another artwork was damaged during a photo opportunity. Museum officials across Italy are now grappling with maintaining a balance between visitor engagement and the preservation of cultural heritage.

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