Tourist Slips While Taking Selfie at Uffizi Gallery, Breaks 18th Century Painting
A tourist stumbled while taking a selfie at the Uffizi Gallery, fell on an 18th century painting and broke it. The incident took place today, Saturday 21 June. The victim was Ferdinando dei Medici, a work by Anton Domenico Gabbiani. The painting, normally kept in the Pitti Palace, is currently on display in the Uffizi Galleries as part of the exhibition 'Florence and Europe. Florence and Europe: 18th Century Art at the Uffizi.
The painting, one of the highlights of the exhibition, which runs until the autumn and is even featured prominently on the website promoting the exhibition, now has a crack at the level of the right foot of the Grand Duke of Florence. However, according to the Uffizi's management, the damage is not serious and the painting will be repaired and returned to the exhibition within a few days. According to initial reports, a visitor stumbled over the steps installed to keep the public at a safe distance from the works. The management has stated that the man slipped while taking a selfie and has already been formally reported to the Carabinieri.
The painting
The prototype – probably the original canvas – was created by Anton Domenico Gabbiani in the early 18th century and shows Ferdinand in armour with sword and baton, a full-length, solemn figure.
In 1722, this prototype was included in the court series of official portraits of the Medici family in the Uffizi; another version, by Giovanni Gaetano, echoes its iconography.
Composition: full-length figure, standing, in shining armour, with distinctive accessories (sword, staff), reinforcing the symbolic value of power and noble dignity.
Style: classical and monumental, with a solid design and sober colouring, typical of Gabbiani's maturity, combining Florentine tradition with Venetian influences.
It is part of a Medici propaganda strategy, portraying Ferdinand as the guarantor of order and dynastic continuity.
The armour refers both to his political and military function and to the symbolic image of the 'warrior prince'.
The portrait transformed Ferdinand into a static and authoritative icon, typical of official court portraits.
The armour is a symbol of Ferdinand's power and authority.