Tourist accidentally breaks off toe of 200-year-old sculpture in Italian museum whilst taking selfie

A CLUMSY tourist accidentally snapped the toes off a 200-year-old sculpture while posing for a selfie.

The tourist, who has been revealed as a 50-year-old man from Austria, had been leaning against the "Paolina Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victrix" artwork at the Gypsotheca Antonio Canova museum in Possagno.

The man – whose name has not been revealed – had been trying to capture the perfect photo during the embarrassing incident on July 31.

He planned to jump from the base of the 200-year-old statue for an acrobatic selfie.

But when he executed his plan – as seen on CCTV – he snapped off one of the sculpture's toes in the process.

Speaking to CNN, police said the man was part of a group of Austrian tourists. 

They said the unfortunate incident occurred when the man left his friends to get a selfie while "sprawled over the statue."

There could yet be even more damage along with the toes, according to investigators.

The man was reportedly only found because of the new coronavirus measures which obliges people to leave their personal contact details with staff at the museum.

According to a press release from Treviso Carabinieri, when contacted by police the man confessed to the "stupid move".

Antonio Canova was an Italian sculptor who lived from 1757 to 1822 and famous for his marble statues. 

His 'Paolina Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victrix' is a 1805-1808 marble sculpture.

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