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 said 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. It comes a day after French police reportedly detained nine people - including two museum staff - over a suspected ticket fraud scheme.
Museum bosses have come under increasing scrutiny in recent months, after thieves stole priceless French crown jewels from the museum in broad daylight and hundreds of books were damaged in a previous leak.
The Louvre said Thursday night's leak occurred at the entrance to the paintings department in the Denon wing. Firefighters responded 'immediately' and the leak was stopped 40 minutes after it began. A painting restorer inspected Meynier's ceiling painting on Friday morning and found it had 'two tears in the same area, caused by the water, and the paint layer on the ceiling and its arches has lifted.'
The ceiling painting, signed by Meynier in 1822, depicts lauded French painters Nicolas Poussin, Eustache Le Sueur, and Charles Le Brun, who appear in the clouds among angelic figures. Rooms 706, 707 and 708 were closed on Friday morning but are expected to reopen later in the day.
The chief architect of historic monuments assessed the ceiling's condition and found no structural problems, while a union representative reported that scaffolding had been erected in the affected area. The cost of the damage to the painting and building remains unclear.
This leak is the latest in a series of problems faced by the museum, which is the most visited in the world. In December, 300-400 pieces, mostly books, were damaged by a leak in the Egyptian department. Recently, a high-profile heist led to the partial closure of some galleries. The museum has since moved its most precious jewels to secure vaults.
The museum said 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. It comes a day after French police reportedly detained nine people - including two museum staff - over a suspected ticket fraud scheme.
Museum bosses have come under increasing scrutiny in recent months, after thieves stole priceless French crown jewels from the museum in broad daylight and hundreds of books were damaged in a previous leak.
The Louvre said Thursday night's leak occurred at the entrance to the paintings department in the Denon wing. Firefighters responded 'immediately' and the leak was stopped 40 minutes after it began. A painting restorer inspected Meynier's ceiling painting on Friday morning and found it had 'two tears in the same area, caused by the water, and the paint layer on the ceiling and its arches has lifted.'
The ceiling painting, signed by Meynier in 1822, depicts lauded French painters Nicolas Poussin, Eustache Le Sueur, and Charles Le Brun, who appear in the clouds among angelic figures. Rooms 706, 707 and 708 were closed on Friday morning but are expected to reopen later in the day.
The chief architect of historic monuments assessed the ceiling's condition and found no structural problems, while a union representative reported that scaffolding had been erected in the affected area. The cost of the damage to the painting and building remains unclear.
This leak is the latest in a series of problems faced by the museum, which is the most visited in the world. In December, 300-400 pieces, mostly books, were damaged by a leak in the Egyptian department. Recently, a high-profile heist led to the partial closure of some galleries. The museum has since moved its most precious jewels to secure vaults.
