Vandalism

Whether the willful damage to art and architecture is ideological or simply spiteful, damaged art decreases in value, while destroying an artwork can turn a potential fortune into a pile of dust. However, for certain famous works, the cachet of having endured vandalism (or theft) actually increases value. Vandalism certainly adds to popular interest, as witnessed by the tour guides in Florence and London who love to recount the survival tales of Michelangelo’s "David."

Photo by Austin Tolin, courtesy flickr