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Falling for art … the hard way

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We've all done it — accidentally broken something precious belonging to someone else.

But pity the poor 12-year-old who last weekend tripped while walking past a 17th-century painting in an exhibition in Taipei, stumbled and put his fist through the artwork.

View the Best Off Beat stories from July.

The painting in question, a still life entitled “Flowers” painted by Paolo Porpora, is worth about $1.54 million, according to the exhibition organizer, and is insured, Focus Taiwan News reported.

The painting, which is owned by a private collector, already has been restored and is back hanging in the exhibit, sources said.

The organizers of the exhibition, “Faces of Leonardo: Images of Genius,” said that the boy, who has not been named, and his family will not be asked to contribute toward restoration costs.

The boy joins a roll call of other hapless art fans who have damaged valuable works of art, according to The Guardian.

They include casino mogul Steve Wynn, who put his elbow through Picasso's masterpiece Le Reve.

Our clumsy Taipei art fan should take heart — Mr. Wynn still was able to sell the restored Picasso for a record $155 million in 2013.

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