Latest news with #MuseumBoijmansVanBeuningen
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Child accidentally damages $50 million Rothko at Dutch museum
A Mark Rothko painting thought to be worth tens of millions of dollars is undergoing restoration after a child accidentally damaged the artwork at a museum in the Netherlands. 'Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8' sustained some visible scratches when a child brushed against the abstract painting at the Depot, a public storage area of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. In the Depot, much of the art is displayed similarly to how it would in a gallery without traditional exhibition protections. The Depot is currently showing highlights of its vast collection as the main museum undergoes renovations. 'It happened because a child, in an unsupervised moment, touched the lower part of the work. There was no intent. This was not vandalism,' museum spokesperson Vincent Cardinaal told ABC News. The painting has since been moved to the museum's conservation lab. Cardinaal said the restoration process was expected to be successful and that the painting would be able to be displayed in the future. The museum did not release images of the damage, further description or estimates of repair costs. A vandal who wrote on another Rothko piece at the Tate Modern in London caused about $250,000 in damages that cost 18 months to repair. 'Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8' has never been auctioned but it's estimated to be worth between $50 and $60 million. 'Untitled, 1968' — another of Rothko's 'color field' paintings — sold for $23.9 million at Sotheby's in 2023. The Dutch museum acquired the piece in 1970 after Rothko's death. _____
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
Child accidentally damages $50 million Rothko at Rotterdam museum
Literally marked by a child's hand, one of the Netherland's most valuable paintings is now undergoing restoration after being accidentally damaged in a museum in Rotterdam. The work in question -- Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 (1960) by Mark Rothko -- sustained several visible scratches in its unvarnished lower paint layer when a young child brushed against it during a visit to the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen -- a publicly accessible art storage facility connected to Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. The incident occurred at the Depot, that allows visitors to view thousands of works in a visible-storage environment, where much of the collection is accessible without traditional exhibition barriers. To many, it feels less like a formal gallery and more like a backstage pass to the museum's inner workings -- a space where masterpieces are visible, but not always protected in the traditional sense. The Rothko work was on display as part of Lievelingen, an exhibition featuring 70 beloved collection highlights, from Bruegel to Dalí, while the main museum is currently closed for renovations until at least 2030. 'The work by Rothko has suffered damage: a number of visible scratches in the unvarnished paint layer,' confirmed museum spokesperson Vincent Cardinaal. 'It happened because a child, in an unsupervised moment, touched the lower part of the work. There was no intent. This was not vandalism.' The child, reportedly under the age of five years old, had simply waved a hand too close to the canvas during what the museum later called an 'unguarded moment.' The painting has since been removed from view and transferred to the museum's conservation lab. 'We are currently researching the next steps for treatment and expect that the work will be able to be shown again in the future,' Cardinaal added. This is not the first time a Rothko painting has been damaged in a public museum. In 2012, a Polish man named Vladimir Umanets wrote on Black on Maroon (1958) at the Tate Modern in London, using black ink to sign his name and added the phrase 'This is Yellowism.' Umanets said it was part of his art movement, but he was arrested and sent to prison for two years. It took 18 months and about $250,000 to repair the painting, showing just how hard it is to fix even small black marker damage on a Rothko. The museum has declined to release photos of the damage or reveal who will cover the costs. 'We never disclose information regarding valuation, security, or insurance,' Cardinaal said. 'That is standard policy -- not just here, but across most major museums in Europe.' Though the painting has never been auctioned, one East European art collector has estimated its value between $50 and $60 million. Acquired by the museum in 1970 -- the year Rothko died -- it is one of just two of his works held in public collections in the Netherlands. Art crime expert Arthur Brand, known for recovering stolen masterpieces, said the damage -- though minor -- underscores the fragility of Rothko's unvarnished surfaces. 'This wasn't a protest or criminal act. It was a child being a child,' Brand said. 'But Rothko's surfaces are incredibly sensitive. A single swipe can mean months of restoration and tens of thousands in costs.' Brand estimated the conservation work could range from $50,000 to $150,000 but explained that the bigger picture should not be lost. 'We should protect these works -- absolutely -- but we also need to let kids be around art. That's how they fall in love with it,' he said. A curator familiar with European museums and their display philosophy, who asked not to be named, offered a broader perspective. 'Given how exposed some of these works are, it's almost surprising that these accidents don't happen more often.' The incident has revived questions about the risks of displaying high-value art in open-access settings. Still, the museum stands by its approach. And as the scratched Rothko awaits restoration, Brand summed it simply. 'In every crowd of 100, there's always one person -- or in this case, one tiny hand -- capable of a very big accident.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Child accidentally damages $50 million Rothko at Rotterdam museum
Literally marked by a child's hand, one of the Netherland's most valuable paintings is now undergoing restoration after being accidentally damaged in a museum in Rotterdam. The work in question -- Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 (1960) by Mark Rothko -- sustained several visible scratches in its unvarnished lower paint layer when a young child brushed against it during a visit to the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen -- a publicly accessible art storage facility connected to Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. The incident occurred at the Depot, that allows visitors to view thousands of works in a visible-storage environment, where much of the collection is accessible without traditional exhibition barriers. To many, it feels less like a formal gallery and more like a backstage pass to the museum's inner workings -- a space where masterpieces are visible, but not always protected in the traditional sense. MORE: Gustav Klimt portrait found after vanishing nearly 100 years ago The Rothko work was on display as part of Lievelingen, an exhibition featuring 70 beloved collection highlights, from Bruegel to Dalí, while the main museum is currently closed for renovations until at least 2030. 'The work by Rothko has suffered damage: a number of visible scratches in the unvarnished paint layer,' confirmed museum spokesperson Vincent Cardinaal. 'It happened because a child, in an unsupervised moment, touched the lower part of the work. There was no intent. This was not vandalism.' The child, reportedly under the age of five years old, had simply waved a hand too close to the canvas during what the museum later called an 'unguarded moment.' The painting has since been removed from view and transferred to the museum's conservation lab. 'We are currently researching the next steps for treatment and expect that the work will be able to be shown again in the future,' Cardinaal added. MORE: Beer can artwork accidentally trashed by museum worker This is not the first time a Rothko painting has been damaged in a public museum. In 2012, a Polish man named Vladimir Umanets wrote on Black on Maroon (1958) at the Tate Modern in London, using black ink to sign his name and added the phrase 'This is Yellowism.' Umanets said it was part of his art movement, but he was arrested and sent to prison for two years. It took 18 months and about $250,000 to repair the painting, showing just how hard it is to fix even small black marker damage on a Rothko. The museum has declined to release photos of the damage or reveal who will cover the costs. MORE: 'Complete mystery' as 1,800-year-old ancient Roman statue dug up in UK parking lot MORE: 200-year-old 'national treasure' stolen from storage unit as police hunt for missing portrait of George Washington 'We never disclose information regarding valuation, security, or insurance,' Cardinaal said. 'That is standard policy -- not just here, but across most major museums in Europe.' Though the painting has never been auctioned, one East European art collector has estimated its value between $50 and $60 million. Acquired by the museum in 1970 -- the year Rothko died -- it is one of just two of his works held in public collections in the Netherlands. Art crime expert Arthur Brand, known for recovering stolen masterpieces, said the damage -- though minor -- underscores the fragility of Rothko's unvarnished surfaces. MORE: 4 charged after fully functional solid gold toilet called 'America' stolen from Winston Churchill's birthplace 'This wasn't a protest or criminal act. It was a child being a child,' Brand said. 'But Rothko's surfaces are incredibly sensitive. A single swipe can mean months of restoration and tens of thousands in costs.' Brand estimated the conservation work could range from $50,000 to $150,000 but explained that the bigger picture should not be lost. 'We should protect these works -- absolutely -- but we also need to let kids be around art. That's how they fall in love with it,' he said. A curator familiar with European museums and their display philosophy, who asked not to be named, offered a broader perspective. 'Given how exposed some of these works are, it's almost surprising that these accidents don't happen more often.' MORE: Solid gold toilet worth over $1 million stolen from Winston Churchill's birthplace The incident has revived questions about the risks of displaying high-value art in open-access settings. Still, the museum stands by its approach. And as the scratched Rothko awaits restoration, Brand summed it simply. 'In every crowd of 100, there's always one person -- or in this case, one tiny hand -- capable of a very big accident.' Child accidentally damages $50 million Rothko at Rotterdam museum originally appeared on
The Independent
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Child damages Rothko painting worth more than £42m at museum
A Mark Rothko painting, "Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8," estimated to be worth £42.5 million, was damaged at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. A child caused "small scratches" to the lower part of the painting, which was described as 'superficial damage'. The museum is assessing the damage and planning restoration, but has not released images or cost estimates. Unrelated acts of vandalism against artworks, including a 2012 defacement of a different Rothko painting and recent attacks on paintings at London's National Gallery, prompted the gallery to ban liquids. The museum expects the Rothko painting to be displayed again in the future. Rothko painting worth more than £42m damaged by child visiting gallery
Extra.ie
29-04-2025
- Extra.ie
Child damages painting worth tens of millions during 'unguarded moment'
A painting worth an estimated €50m has been damaged after an 'unguarded moment' which saw a young child place their hands on the artwork. Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 was painted by Mark Rothko and was being displayed in a storage facility next to the museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. The abstract piece had been the centre piece for the museum before it was closed for renovation and was being displayed at the art storage facility along with the museum's entire collection. A painting worth an estimated €50m has been damaged after an 'unguarded moment' which saw a young child place their hands on the artwork. Pic: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen A spokesperson for the museum confirmed that the painting had sustained 'superficial' damage such as 'small scratches visible in the unvarnished paint layer in the lower part of the painting.' Speaking to the BBC, they said: 'Conservation expertise has been sought in the Netherlands and abroad. We are currently researching the next steps for the treatment of the painting. 'We expect that the work will be able to be shown again in the future.' Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 was painted by Mark Rothko and was being displayed in a storage facility next to the museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Pic: Google Maps Mark Rothkow was a Latvian-American abstract painter, best known for his colour field paintings which saw irregular rectangular regions of colour. The painter died in 1970, with many of his works selling for tens of millions of euro. It's not the first time his paintings have been damaged with Wlodzimierz Umaniec being jailed for two years in 2012 following the defilement of black on Maroon. The 1958 work was deliberaly damaged at London's Tate Modern gallery, with the court told that repairing the work would cost in the region of €235,000. It took a year and a half for the painting to be restored.
