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The costliest art mishaps The costliest art mishaps
(about 1 hour later)
A 17th Century painting inspired by Leonardo da Vinci is back on display after a 12-year-old Taiwanese boy accidentally punched a hole in it at an exhibition on Sunday.A 17th Century painting inspired by Leonardo da Vinci is back on display after a 12-year-old Taiwanese boy accidentally punched a hole in it at an exhibition on Sunday.
Closed-circuit television footage showed him tripping and putting his fist through the $1.5m (£960,000) painting by Italian artist Paolo Porpora as he attempted to steady himself. The BBC's Tessa Wong takes a look at the incident and other notable and costly art mishaps.
The BBC takes a look at other notable and costly art mishaps. The $1.5m punch
The unnamed boy was walking around the exhibition in a Taipei gallery when he put his fist through a $1.5m (£960,000) painting by Italian artist Paolo Porpora.
Closed-circuit television footage showed him tripping over a low barrier and veering into the painting as he attempted to steady himself.
Taiwanese restorer Leo Tsai managed to patch it up within two days.
He told reporters that as the painting is very fragile "the priority is to strengthen its structure, not to retouch the paint on the damaged area".
The exhibition organisers have said they do not plan to seek compensation from the boy and his family.
'The $40m elbow''The $40m elbow'
In 2006, US casino magnate Steve Wynn famously punctured one of Pablo Picasso's most famous paintings, Le Rêve.In 2006, US casino magnate Steve Wynn famously punctured one of Pablo Picasso's most famous paintings, Le Rêve.
Mr Wynn, who owned the painting at that time, was about to sell it to a friend.Mr Wynn, who owned the painting at that time, was about to sell it to a friend.
He was showing the painting to a group of friends on the eve of the sale when he backed up and put his elbow through it, prompting some in the US media to dub it 'the $40m elbow'. The deal was called off.He was showing the painting to a group of friends on the eve of the sale when he backed up and put his elbow through it, prompting some in the US media to dub it 'the $40m elbow'. The deal was called off.
But Mr Wynn managed to recoup some of the embarrassment in dollars. In 2013 he sold the restored painting to the same friend at a higher price of $155m.But Mr Wynn managed to recoup some of the embarrassment in dollars. In 2013 he sold the restored painting to the same friend at a higher price of $155m.
The $471,000 tumbleThe $471,000 tumble
Also in 2006, a man smashed three Qing dynasty porcelain vases on a windowsill at Cambridge University's Fitzwilliam Museum when he tumbled down the stairs.Also in 2006, a man smashed three Qing dynasty porcelain vases on a windowsill at Cambridge University's Fitzwilliam Museum when he tumbled down the stairs.
The vases were produced in the late 17th or early 18th Century in China, and were part of a set valued up to £300,000 at the time.The vases were produced in the late 17th or early 18th Century in China, and were part of a set valued up to £300,000 at the time.
The museum spent six months restoring the vases, which are now housed in a specially designed case.The museum spent six months restoring the vases, which are now housed in a specially designed case.
The widely publicised incident later inspired a German artist to replicate the scene of the smash in an artwork called Landing., and Fitzwilliam now sells a mini-jigsaw postcard of the vases. The man who tumbled down the stairs was not charged.The widely publicised incident later inspired a German artist to replicate the scene of the smash in an artwork called Landing., and Fitzwilliam now sells a mini-jigsaw postcard of the vases. The man who tumbled down the stairs was not charged.
The $10,000 protestThe $10,000 protest
Another smashing incident that had a less fortuitous ending took place last year when Florida artist Maximo Caminero deliberately broke a vase by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.Another smashing incident that had a less fortuitous ending took place last year when Florida artist Maximo Caminero deliberately broke a vase by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
Mr Caminero had walked into Miami's Perez Art Museum, picked up one of several urns by Ai and threw it to the ground.Mr Caminero had walked into Miami's Perez Art Museum, picked up one of several urns by Ai and threw it to the ground.
He was promptly arrested and later found guilty of criminal mischief. Caminero had to pay $10,000 for the damage, which was the appraised value of the urn.He was promptly arrested and later found guilty of criminal mischief. Caminero had to pay $10,000 for the damage, which was the appraised value of the urn.
He said he did it to protest against the museum's alleged preference to showcase international artists, and also because he saw the artwork as a "provocation" to join Ai in "an act of performance protest".He said he did it to protest against the museum's alleged preference to showcase international artists, and also because he saw the artwork as a "provocation" to join Ai in "an act of performance protest".
The pots were arranged in front of another artwork by Ai called Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, which are three giant photographs showing the Chinese artist smashing a vase.The pots were arranged in front of another artwork by Ai called Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, which are three giant photographs showing the Chinese artist smashing a vase.
He also said later he did not realise that the pot was so old and claimed he thought it was a "common clay pot from [US retailer] Home Depot".He also said later he did not realise that the pot was so old and claimed he thought it was a "common clay pot from [US retailer] Home Depot".
The incident however provoked a discussion on what constituted contemporary art, not least because Ai himself has been criticised for destroying artworks by buying ancient urns, splashing them with paint, and smashing them.The incident however provoked a discussion on what constituted contemporary art, not least because Ai himself has been criticised for destroying artworks by buying ancient urns, splashing them with paint, and smashing them.
Ai however told the South China Morning Post: "I smashed my own belongings whereas he broke others'. Behavioural art can go to extremes, like you can hurt yourself for instance, but you cannot hurt others for the sake of art, can you?"Ai however told the South China Morning Post: "I smashed my own belongings whereas he broke others'. Behavioural art can go to extremes, like you can hurt yourself for instance, but you cannot hurt others for the sake of art, can you?"