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12-Year-Old Boy Falls Over And Punches Hole In Centuries-Old Artwork

And then tries to act real casual about it.

A 12-year-old boy in Taiwan tripped and accidentally punched a hole in a 17th-century oil painting at an art exhibit, organizers told several media outlets.

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Security footage released by the organizers captured the boy walking through the gallery and holding a drink, when he stumbles and puts his arms out to steady himself. He left a hole the size of a fist in the artwork.

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Then he just kinda stands there for a bit and it's the most awkward thing ever.

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The 350-year-old painting was on display at The Face of Leonardo: Images of a Genius exhibition in Taipei.

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The organisers of the exhibition said the painting was "Flowers", by late-Baroque-period Italian painter Paolo Porpora. It was valued at $1.5 million.

According to Focus Taiwan, a blogger has pointed out that it is very similar to a painting by Mario Nuzzi, but the gallery denies it has misidentified the piece.

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"All 55 paintings in the venue are authentic pieces and they are very rare and precious," the exhibition's organisers said in a post on the official Facebook page.

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"Once these works are damaged, they are permanently damaged...we hope that everyone can protect these precious artworks with us," it read.

They will attempt to have the damage repaired by a local art restorer before shipping the painting back to Italy.

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As for the boy, the organisers told Taiwanese media he was "very nervous", but he will not be forced to pay for the damage, as all the paintings were insured.

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