First all those works by Andy Warhol were accidentally thrown out. Now this.
A work of art worth millions of dollars was accidentally damaged by a child in the Netherlands.
BBC reports how the abstract painting by American artist Mark Rothko — which is estimated to be valued at about $56 million — was displayed at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen when the incident occurred.
According to Artnet, a museum spokesperson explained that the child managed to scratch the large canvas — titled “Grey, Orange on Maroon, No. 8 (1960)” — during an “unguarded moment.” The age of the child or when exactly the damage occurred remains unconfirmed.
“Small scratches are visible in the unvarnished paint layer in the lower part of the painting,” the spokesperson informed the news outlet.
They added: “Conservation expertise has been sought in the Netherlands and abroad. We are currently researching the next steps for the treatment of the painting.”
ARTNews notes that the museum failed to specify who would be responsible for the cost of repairs to the painting. The museum did state, however, that it “provides no information on the valuation of the painting, the possible costs associated with the conservation of the painting or the further handling of this matter.”
Marketing manager at art restoration service Plowden & Smtih, Johnny Helm, informs the BBC that this incident is more than just an unfortunate happenstance: Other art institutions, which were considering similar open-art displays, might now make the move to archive items.
“Rothko works seem to have terrible luck — this isn’t the first damaged Rothko we’ve heard about,” he said.