Insurers of a 17th-century Italian painting will be paying for its restoration after an art museum in Taipei, Taiwan decided not to take action against the family of a 12-year-old boy who tripped and punched a hole in the piece this weekend.
The boy was on a guided tour of “The Faces of Leonardo: Images of a Genius” when he tripped and fell into the 350-year-old painting by Paolo Porpora, titled “Flowers.” The oil on canvas work was valued at $1.54 million and was on loan from a private collector.
“This is just a simple accident, please don’t blame a 12-year-old child,” TST Art of Discovery Co., the exhibit organizer, wrote on Facebook.
The organizers later added that they will “ask the insurance company to cover restoration costs and compensate the owner of the painting.”
Surveillance video cause the boy tripping and falling into the painting – an accidentthat left a fist-sized gash at the bottom right corner of the piece. The painting is reportedly very fragile due to its age, and the restoration will work to strengthen the structure of the canvas, not retouch paint on the damaged area.
It is unclear how the painting will be appraised afterward. As for the boy, organizers say he was very nervous over the accident and his feelings of discomfort may take more time to repair.
