We’ve reached a moment when selfies and art go hand in hand. We all love to take out our phones and take pictures of ourselves with spectacular works of art. Posting them on our social media gives others the impression that we’re cultured and enjoy visiting galleries. Or at least that we have exquisite taste when it comes to backgrounds for the photos we post on our feeds. However, it seems as if this trend has gotten out of control, as if we can’t help taking pictures of ourselves with anything that may look good on our profiles. Following this frenzy, we often forget that these pieces are there to be observed. Even worse, sometimes this craze not only makes us forget our sense of contemplation, but also our common sense. On more than one occasion, the search for the perfect selfie has resulted in irreparable damage to works of art.
Statue of Saint Michael, National Museum of Ancient Art (Lisbon, Portugal)
In 2016, a Brazilian student went on a trip to the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon to get his fix of neoclassic tendencies of Portuguese sculpture and paintings from the nineteenth century. Dazzled by the esthetics, the 24-year-old decided to take out his phone and capture the moment, hoping for a memento of his day at the museum. While trying to get the perfect frame for the image, he walked a few steps back and knocked over a gilded statue of Saint Michael. The statue fell to the floor and, according to the director of the museum, is now broken beyond repair.
Barberini Faun, Brera Academy of Fine Arts (Milan, Italy)
via Time, photo by Nicolla Vaglia
Sculptures may be deceiving. Their steady compositions and rocklike aspect appear steady, causing the illusion of being able to withstand plenty. However, as strong and powerful as they may seem, the force of gravity is much stronger than the one that holds the character’s leg high. Yet, there are some who dare to defy unbreakable laws, such as an anonymous student who thought it would be a good idea to sit on the lap of a nineteenth century sculpture that depicts a drunken satyr and try to snap a photo during the act of mischief. Surprisingly, the leg of the satyr didn’t resist the weight of the student, giving it a much undesired amputation.
Statue Of Don Sebastiao, Rossio Station (Lisbon , Portugal)
A romantic character in the history of Portugal, during the last years of the seventeenth century, at the age of 24, Don Sebastiao fought in the crusade in Northern Morocco, never making it back to his home. His death was untimely and his body was never recovered. However, the legend said that he would one day return to claim the throne of Portugal. His memory was preserved through several works of art. In May, 2016 a man tried to climb to the niche where a nineteenth century statue of Don Sebastiao regally rested in order to take a selfie with it. Yet, his attempt ended in the statue falling harshly to the ground, shattering the beloved 126-year-old statue into pieces.
Statue of the Two Hercules, Loggie de Militi (Cremona, Italy)
via DailyMail
In early May, 2015, a couple of tourists wanted to take one of the most epic pictures one could ever imagine for their Instagram feed. Their intention was to pose with the famous Statue of the Two Hercules, an eighteenth century marble sculpture that for more than two hundred years stood by the city’s gates as a glorious emblem, for it is said that the Greek demigod had been the city’s founding father. To take their picture, the tourists climbed over the sculpture’s base and posed. However, they ended up knocking off the crown of the coat of arms that the two figures were holding, which smashed into bits.
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Sources:
Time
The Independent
Business Insider
