Tourist Damages Painting While Taking Selfie at the Uffizi

A tourist caused minor damage to a historic painting at the Uffizi Galleries on Friday morning after accidentally backing into it while attempting to take a selfie. The painting, Portrait of Ferdinando de’ Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany, by Anton Domenico Gabbiani, was immediately removed from display for restoration.

According to museum officials, the incident occurred when the visitor leaned back to mimic the pose of the Grand Prince depicted in the 18th-century portrait. In doing so, the individual came into direct contact with the artwork, resulting in what the museum described as “minor damage.” A photograph published by Corriere della Sera appears to show a tear near the lower portion of the canvas, around the figure’s right foot.

The museum staff intervened promptly, and the visitor was identified and will face legal consequences.

In response to the incident, Uffizi Director Simone Verde announced that the museum will soon introduce stricter rules to prevent disruptive behavior related to selfies and social media content creation. “Visitors increasingly come to museums to take memes or selfies, disregarding the nature of these institutions and the respect due to cultural heritage,” Verde said. “We will set clear limits to prevent behavior incompatible with the dignity of our collections.”

The Uffizi Galleries, one of the most visited museums in Italy, house an unparalleled collection of Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. This episode adds to growing concerns among cultural institutions worldwide about the impact of selfie culture on museum safety and decorum.