CLUMSY ART LOVER LEAVES A SIX-INCH GASH IN £80 MILLION PICASSO PAINTING

AN ART LOVER WAS LEFT RED-FACED RECENTLY AFTER SHE RIPPED AN £80 MILLION PICASSO PAINTING WHEN SHE ACCIDENTALLY FELL AGAINST IT. THE WOMAN WAS VISITING THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, WHEN SHE 'LOST HER BALANCE' AND CRASHED INTO THE ARTWORK, CAUSING A SIX INCH GASH. THE PAINTING, CALLED 'THE ACTOR', DEPICTS A GAUNT MALE FIGURE IN A PINK COSTUME ON STAGE AND WAS COMPLETED IN 1905. IT WAS HANGING IN A SECOND-FLOOR GALLERY AMONG A DISPLAY OF THE SPANISH ARTIST'S EARLY WORKS. THE WOMAN WAS UNINJURED, SAID MUSEUM SPOKESMAN ALYSE TOPALIAN. THE PAINTING RECEIVED A VERTICAL TEAR IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER, A MUSEUM STATEMENT SAID. IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE GALLERY AND TAKEN TO THE MUSEUM'S CONSERVATION STUDIO FOR 'ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT', THE STATEMENT ADDED. BECAUSE THE TEAR OCCURRED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE CANVAS, THE REPAIR IS EXPECTED TO BE UNOBTRUSIVE. THE CANVAS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE 'PICASSO IN THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART' EXHIBITION, FEATURING 250 WORKS, SCHEDULED TO RUN 27.APRIL THROUGH 1.AUGUST. THE SIX-FOOT TALL PAINTING SIGNALED A SIFT FROM HIS EARLIER BLUE PERIOD TO HIS MORE VIBRANT AND EMOTIONAL ROSE PERIOD. THE FAMILY OF WALTER P CHRYSLER DONATED THE PAINTING TO THE MUSEUM IN 1952.