In brief
The Louvre Museum has suffered damage to a 19th-century ceiling painting due to a water leak caused by a heating pipe. Discovered late Thursday, the leak resulted in visible damage to the artwork 'The Apotheosis of Poussin' by Charles Meynier. This incident comes shortly after a recent arrest related to a ticket fraud scheme and amidst broader scrutiny of the museum's management following thefts and previous leak incidents. While firefighters stopped the leak within 40 minutes, concerns remain regarding the museum's infrastructure.
A water leak at the Louvre has caused damage to a 19th Century ceiling painting, in the latest major setback for the Parisian museum.
Water damage was discovered in room 707, also known as the 'Duchâtel' room, late on Thursday night, the museum said. The room houses multiple 15th and 16th Century artworks.
The museum stated that the leak - from a heating pipe - was stopped shortly after midnight and the only painting damaged was Charles Meynier's The Apotheosis of Poussin, Le Sueur and Le Brun.
This incident follows the detention of nine individuals by French police over a suspected ticket fraud scheme involving museum staff.
In recent months, museum management has come under scrutiny after issues including a high-profile theft of French crown jewels and previous water damage to hundreds of books.
According to reports, the ceiling painting sustained two tears caused by the water, and the paint layer has lifted. The painting, signed by Meynier in 1822, depicts famed French painters Nicolas Poussin, Eustache Le Sueur, and Charles Le Brun within angelic clouds.
Rooms 706, 707 and 708 in the Denon wing were closed briefly but are expected to reopen soon. The Louvre has faced criticism regarding its infrastructure as this leak follows other incidents of damage detected within the museum, marking ongoing challenges for what is considered the world's most visited museum.
In December, a leak resulted in damage to 300-400 pieces, mostly books, in the museum's Egyptian department. Furthermore, a high-profile heist in October, involving stolen historic jewelry, underscored vulnerabilities in the museum's security system.
The Louvre's management has been criticized for not prioritizing maintenance and renovation over acquisitions of artwork, raising concerns about the museum's future preservation efforts.
