Rome, at Borghese Gallery tourist falls and damages Guido Reni canvas on display

Incident yesterday at Rome ’s Galleria Borghese in the Mariano Rossi room that houses the first part of the Guido Reni exhibition: around 4 p.m. a tourist fell, ruining herself on the Bolognese painter’s San Francesco . In an attempt not to lose her balance, the woman leaned against the canvas, on loan from the Museum of Rome in Palazzo Braschi, and caused the painting to suffer a cut of about 4 centimeters. It is not known whether an illness or the woman’s distraction in a narrow passageway caused the fall. Although the visitor was immediately assisted by the hall staff, which was present with three units at the time, there was no way to avoid the damage because of the rapidity of the incident.

In fact, the setup consists of an ephemeral architecture that forces visitors to walk on the four sides of the hall to avoid stepping on the floor mosaics. Some steel seats instead protect the mosaics on the bands on either side of the hall.

A reconnaissance by restorers on the painting is scheduled for today. Yesterday, however, the public continued to be able to view the exhibition, St. Francis included. However, the damaged work could only be seen from a distance: the corridor was in fact protected with two cordons and guarded by two attendants so that the public would not be allowed to get too close. As early as late yesterday afternoon, in fact, surveillance in the hall was being significantly reinforced.

In the photo by Alberto Novelli the exhibition hall and Guido Reni’s San Francesco

Update: The damage is minor (click to read more)

Rome, at Borghese Gallery tourist falls and damages Guido Reni canvas on display

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