Boy trips and damages precious Italian painting
A 17th-century Paolo Porpora oil painting worth US$1.5 million (S$2.1 million) was damaged after a Taiwanese boy accidentally punched a hole in it when he tripped.
The 12-year-old was seen on CCTV footage holding a drink as he walked past the painting at a Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in Taipei when his foot got caught on a rope barrier.
In a bid to regain his balance, the boy stuck his arms out and broke his fall on the precious painting, ripping a fist-sized hole near the bottom.
Realising what he had done, the terrified boy froze, not knowing what to do.
Fortunately for him, Focus Taiwan reported that the organisers would not be seeking damages from the child's family and that he was not to be blamed.
The painting, which belongs to a private art collector, was insured.
Flowers by Paolo Porpora. PHOTO: FACEBOOK / 真相達文西特展
A photo showing the damage done to the painting.
Organisers called in expert restorer Tsai Shun-jen, who worked on the painting and was thanked on the exhibition's Facebook page by curator Andrea Rossi for his work.
Sources: Focus Taiwan via The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Facebook
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