Museum Visitor Kicks Goliath

A man who claimed he found the art subject disturbing put his foot through a 17th century painting valued at $300,000 at the Milwaukee Art Museum. David Gordon, museum CEO and director, said the 1640 work, “The Triumph of David” by Ottavio Vannini, was hanging in the art museum's Early European Gallery when the incident happened Wednesday, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The oil painting depicts the end of the biblical tale of David and Goliath, with David carrying the severed head of the giant Goliath, Gordon said. “The man was kicking it, aiming his blows at the head of Goliath, and then he pulled it off the wall and started kicking it,” Gordon said. A museum employee and security guard tried to restrain the man, and eventually he stopped, took off his shirt and lay on the gallery's floor, Gordon said. The 22-year-old man told police he was disturbed by the image of Goliath's severed head. (For full source and article click the Headline). Irish Art