An unusual incident occurred at an art gallery in Jesolo, Italy, when a 5-year-old Polish girl damaged a valuable gold sculpture while attempting to draw on a painting worth €200,000. The child had evaded her mother's supervision and made her way toward a white canvas by renowned Italian artist Enrico Castellani.
According to reports from Corriere della Sera, the young girl wanted to draw on the artwork by Castellani, who is considered one of the most important artists of the second half of the 20th century. To reach the painting, which was positioned at height, the child decided to climb onto a 24-carat gold spider sculpture created by Carlo Pecorelli. However, the sculpture, valued at €30,000, could not support her weight, and one of its legs broke during the incident.
The gallery owner, Carlo Pecorelli, responded to the accident with understanding, stating, "Unfortunately, despite all the attention we pay to it, this kind of incident happens. They are rare, but they happen." He emphasized the importance of security measures in exhibitions, adding, "In all exhibitions, large or small, and regardless of the value of the work, great caution and appropriate prevention systems, such as display cases and sensors, are necessary."
Following this incident, the gallery announced it would strengthen public surveillance measures. The institution also confirmed it had reached a compensation agreement with the family, though the amount was not disclosed. As for the damaged gold spider sculpture, Pecorelli indicated it would need to be "repaired, welded, polished, and re-gilded with 24-carat gold."
This incident joins a growing list of accidental damages at museums worldwide, highlighting the ongoing challenge art institutions face in balancing public access with artwork preservation. The gallery's response demonstrates both the vulnerability of valuable artworks and the need for enhanced security measures to protect cultural treasures while maintaining an accessible environment for visitors.
