When we visit art galleries, it's easy to take for granted that we're able to get pretty up close and personal with some of the most valuable classic works the world has ever seen.
On one hand, it stands to reason that this would be the case because the art would lose a lot of its significance and intrinsic value if nobody was able to see and appreciate it. And the closer we are to it, the more of its fine details we can identify.
But on the other hand, there are a lot of risks that come with operating a gallery this way. After all, there have been cases where art has been the target of both daring thieves and individuals who felt compelled to attack specific pieces for whatever reason.
And as we're about to see, a visitor's carelessness can be just as damaging to a fragile classic as their malice.