Friday, November 18th, he worked it out Charles Ray It was spray painted orange by activists from the Last Renovation collective, in front of the Paris Stock Exchange. A month ago, activists from the Letzte Generation and Just Stop Oil sprayed The millstoneClaude Monet, Mashed Potatoes and sunflowerby Vincent van Gogh, from Tomato Soup. The panels protected by glass were not damaged. But these measures raise questions about the permeability of the security systems put in place by museums.
Since 2014, in the Louvre, the works of Leonardo da Vinci have been closely guarded, both in terms of personnel and equipment. The Mona Lisa And so it is placed under the bell: an imposing double glaze overlays it. To observe the painting from the front, visitors wave in a line and then stretch a rope for a photo. Four customers stand there, on either side, ensuring that the security space that separates them from the masterpiece is preserved.
The museum’s glass paintings depend on their popularity. unlike the Mona Lisa paintingthe part that envelops the canvas rock virginLeonardo da Vinci does not cover her frame. “Protecting works costs museums money. A famous painting will necessarily be more protected than other paintings.Sandrine (who did not want to be named), notes Sandrine, an independent tour guide.
“open your eyes”
But have museums strengthened the security of their works in the face of the spread of hostilities, which have become their target? The Louvre-Lens website suggests: “In the face of recent acts of vandalism against several European museums, the Louvre-Lens Museum has instructed its security teams to exercise increased vigilance in the galleries and at the entrance gates.” It seems that the Louvre’s management, who did not want to speak, is participating in the Louvre-Lens vigil. Upon being asked immediately, the security agents returned the password. “We especially watch visitors who get too close to the paintings.”One of them slips from us.
According to two security officers at the Carnavalet Museum, the lack of staff affects the quality of surveillance
Paris Musées, which brings together the fourteen museums of the city of Paris, has established a specific procedure for “to respond in the event of discovery or commission of military action”. Addressed to security personnel in the form of a “Combat action reflex sheet” Discreet, it is based on a three-step strategy: “Contradictions during Vigipirate checks; detection of preparation for a process; processing of a process in progress or completed.” A security officer from the Cognac Gay Museum confirms the truth of the directive: “ He asked us to keep our eyes open. We are more vigilant “.
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