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Boy punches hole in $1.5 million painting from the 17th century

News - Jan 26, 2024
Boy punches hole in $1.5 million painting from the 17th century

The viral video, shared on Reddit, showed a 12-year-old tripping and punching a hole in a $1.5 million 17th-century painting, leaving numerous people stunned.

The original video was captured in 2015 but has now gone viral again on social media after being shared by an unknown user, leaving several people stunned.

The video depicted a 12-year-old tripping and damaging a valuable 17th-century painting. 

His action caused a hole in a $1.5 million 17th-century painting.  Image Credits: Inside Edition/Youtube
His action caused a hole in a $1.5 million 17th-century painting. Image Credits: Inside Edition/Youtube

A video capturing the moment a 12-year-old boy tripped and punched a hole in a $1.5 million 17th-century painting has resurfaced on social media, further increasing the embarrassment for the young boy. 

According to the reported incident that occurred in Taipei in 2015, the footage, which was posted by the exhibition organizers, is now viral.

In the video, a 12-year-old boy trips over a rope barrier, desperately trying to regain his balance but he is captured and launches a fist into the painting.
In the video, a 12-year-old boy trips over a rope barrier, desperately trying to regain his balance but he is captured and launches a fist into the painting. Image Credits: Inside Edition/Youtube

The video showed that a 12-year-old, wearing shorts, trainers, and a blue Puma T-shirt while holding a drink, can be seen walking past the still-life painting.

Suddenly, he trips over a rope barrier, desperately trying to regain his balance but he is captured and launches a fist into the painting.

The incident caused damage to Baroque artist Paolo Porpora's masterpiece known as 'Flowers'. 

After the incident, the temporary closure of the exhibition and the implementation of new safety measures, such as increased distance between paintings and visitors. 

Boy punches hole in $1.5 million painting from the 17th century
Boy punches hole in $1.5 million painting from the 17th century

According to the authorities, fortunately, the young boy was not held responsible for the damage caused.

The 12-year-old was not held responsible for the damage and his family was not charged for restoration costs for the $1.5 million painting from the 17th century.

Instead, an insurance company stepped in, covering the expenses of restoring the painting and compensating its owner. 

In the video, several people are extremely shocked by the 12-year-old boy's actions. 

After the incident, the boy, fortunately, was not held responsible for the damage caused. 
After the incident, the boy, fortunately, was not held responsible for the damage caused.  Image Credits: Inside Edition/Youtube

Numerous people suggest that his family should be educated about this act of violence, while others recommend that families should supervise their children to prevent unexpectedly damaging actions. 

One person said: Multi-million dollar art should be covered or boxed in clear acrylic. Easy, and would have saved this painting. Regardless if the boy slipped. 

A second wrote: If he was the painter, his "punch" would be considered art

A third commented: A punch is an intentional act. You can't "accidentally punch" something. He fell against it and made a hole in it, which is something completely different. Poor kid.

Someone else said: I can tell he isn't a brat. Its a genuine mistake and from his body language, he didn't expect that to happen too. Bad things happen to all of us.

Watching the video: