Fact Check: 300-year-old painting damaged by visitor trying to make a meme!

Fact Check: "300-Year-Old Painting Damaged by Visitor Trying to Make a Meme!"

What We Know

On June 24, 2025, a tourist visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, damaged a priceless 300-year-old painting while attempting to pose for a photo. The incident involved the visitor trying to imitate the pose of the subject in the painting, a portrait of Ferdinando de' Medici created by Anton Domenico Gabbiani in 1712. Security footage revealed that the tourist lost his balance and fell backward into the canvas, resulting in a tear near the bottom of the artwork (source-1, source-4). The painting was temporarily displayed at the Uffizi for an exhibition and is normally housed at Palazzo Pitti (source-1).

Following the incident, the tourist was apprehended and reported to the police for damaging cultural heritage. Uffizi Gallery officials indicated that the painting would be removed for repairs and announced plans to impose stricter regulations to prevent similar occurrences in the future (source-2, source-8).

Analysis

The claim that a 300-year-old painting was damaged by a visitor attempting to create a meme is supported by multiple credible sources. The incident was widely reported, with consistent details across various outlets, including the New York Post, BBC, and The Guardian (source-1, source-4, source-2). The Uffizi Gallery's director, Simone Verde, highlighted the growing issue of visitors treating museums as backdrops for social media content, which has led to increased incidents of damage to artworks (source-2, source-8).

The sources used in this analysis are reputable news organizations, which enhances their reliability. The consistent reporting across these outlets indicates a high level of confidence in the facts presented. Furthermore, the Uffizi Gallery's response to the incident, including the potential for stricter visitor regulations, underscores the seriousness of the situation and the museum's commitment to protecting cultural heritage.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that a 300-year-old painting was damaged by a visitor trying to make a meme is accurate. The incident was captured on security footage, and the details have been corroborated by multiple reliable sources. The Uffizi Gallery's response to the incident further validates the claim, highlighting the ongoing issue of visitor behavior in cultural institutions.