A teenager threw water on masterpieces and tore down tapestries: he wreaked havoc at the Metropolitan Museum.
'06.11.2025'
ForumDaily New York
A teenager caused a real chaos at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art: he splashed water on two ancient masterpieces and tore tapestries off the walls. This was reported by New York Post.
According to police, 19-year-old Joshua Wavrin of Texas was likely under the influence of an "unknown substance." His mother brought him to the police after the incident.
The madcap prank occurred on Monday, November 3, around 4:50 PM in the halls of the renowned museum on Fifth Avenue. Wavrin doused the painting "The Princesse de Broglie" with water—a masterpiece by 19th-century French portraitist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, which the Metropolitan Museum of Art calls "a true masterpiece" on its website.
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Another priceless work also received the prize: a 16th-century altarpiece, “Madonna and Child with Saints,” by the Italian master Girolamo dai Libri.
In addition, in a fit of rage, the young man tore two historical tapestries from the wall.
According to police, the damage is estimated at approximately $1000 per piece of art. Vavrin has been charged with malicious damage to property.
