Water Damages Venetian Basilica Ceiling, Sixteenth-Century Titian Fresco
This picture, taken on Aug. 30, shows water dripping near "David and Goliath," a painting by renaissance master Titian, in the Santa Maria della Salute basilica in Venice. Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
After firefighters battled a blaze in a building next door to a Venetian basilica, water damaged "David and Goliath," a fresco by Titian, rendered in the sixteenth century.
According to The Associated Press, "the fire broke out Sunday night at the seminary next to the Santa Maria della Salute basilica."
Agence France Presse quotes Vittorio Sgarbi, the head of Venice's museum agency: "I saw water dripping from the painting for an hour," he said.
Sgarbi inspected the painting, then order its removal from the church ceiling.
"The painting might have experienced some alteration, but nothing that can't be restored," he said.