Viral video: Italian politician crashes through historic artwork

Dubai: A rare piece of Italy’s artistic heritage was severely damaged this week when Sardinian politician Emanuele Cani tripped inside a government building and fell headfirst into a historic stained-glass window by renowned artist Mario Sironi.

Surveillance footage shows Cani losing his balance while descending a staircase during an event at the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy on November 12.

As he tried to steady himself, he stumbled forward and crashed through the glass artwork, leaving delegates at the reception stunned. Cani escaped without injury but later expressed “deep regret” over the incident.

The artwork: A 1932 masterpiece

The shattered window, titled “Labour Charter”, was installed in 1932 and commissioned under Mussolini’s fascist government to commemorate the 1927 labour reforms. Covering 75 square metres, the piece depicted workers, machinery, and industrial progress, and was considered one of Sironi’s most significant public works.

Sironi’s legacy and cultural loss

Mario Sironi, a leading figure of early 20th-century Italian modernism, was initially linked to the Futurist movement before developing a darker, monumental style that defined Italy’s interwar aesthetic. Experts have described the destruction of the stained-glass work as a major cultural loss.

Restoration under review

Authorities are reviewing the footage and assessing whether the fragile artwork can be restored. The ministry has not yet confirmed if full reconstruction is possible. The accident comes months after a tourist damaged an 18th-century painting while taking a selfie, reigniting debates about the protection of Italy’s cultural treasures.