Tourist Destroys 'Van Gogh' Chair, Then Runs
"Self-Portrait" by Vincent Van Gogh. Public domain.
At the intersection of art and impulse, one man's ill-fated decision left a glittering work of art in ruins and a museum reeling.
The 'Van Gogh' Chair: A Delicate Tribute
Housed inside the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy, the "Van Gogh" chair is more than just furniture.
Created by contemporary Italian artist Nicola Bolla, it's a sculptural homage to Vincent van Gogh's 1888 painting "Van Gogh's Chair." Unlike the rustic original, Bolla's version glimmers with hundreds of Swarovski crystals affixed to a delicate frame made of hollow foil and polished, machine-cut glass. Though it resembles a usable chair, it was clearly labeled as artwork and placed on a visual (and literal) pedestal to discourage interaction.
The Moment It All Went Wrong
In April 2025, museum CCTV captured the pivotal moment — a man snapping a photo of a woman crouching in front of the chair, pretending to sit.
Moments later, he attempted the real thing.
As he sat down, the fragile structure collapsed beneath him. Caught off balance, he stumbled backward into a wall, while the woman rushed over. The two then fled the room before the museum staff realized what had happened.
The museum described the act as an "irresponsible gesture," according to ARTNews, and shared the footage online in June, sparking widespread criticism and calls for better respect for cultural heritage.
Museum Officials Respond
Palazzo Maffei's director, Vanessa Carlon, acknowledged the act as accidental but emphasized that the couple's decision to flee compounded the issue. "Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don't think about the consequences," she said, according to the BBC. "Of course it was an accident, but these two people left without speaking to us — that isn't an accident."
Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at the museum, added that although the chair might have looked sturdy, it was structurally fragile. She confirmed there was a sign indicating it should not be touched and reiterated its placement on a pedestal as a deterrent.
A Repair and a Lesson
Despite the initial damage — two legs and the seat were crushed — the chair was successfully restored and is once again on display.
The museum has not disclosed the cost of repairs or whether the tourists, who remain unidentified, will be held financially responsible.
Still, museum staff hope this moment serves as a broader reminder of how delicate — and deeply meaningful — art can be. Sometimes the cost of a careless moment is more than just a broken chair.
References: Man Sits On and Breaks Crystal-Encrusted 'Van Gogh' Chair in Italian Museum Before Fleeing | 'Idiot' Tourist Sits on and Shatters 'Van Gogh' Chair Adorned With Thousands of Swarovski Crystals | Tourists Damage Crystal-Covered Chair in Italian Museum by Sitting on It | Museum's Plea After Couple Break Crystal-Covered Chair
