Woman Fined for Kissing a Twombly

By ARTINFO

Published: November 16, 2007

Cy Twombly Picasso Leads Sotheby's Print Sale Still Prime Time? Korean Auction House Targets Postwar Market Gagosian Goes Retail Stella Wins Spain’s González Prize The Known Unknowns Editor's Letter

Send a letter to the Editor

Save to Del.icio.us

Digg this

MARSEILLE, France— A woman who left a lipstick kiss on a $2 million Cy Twombly painting was fined €1,500 ($2,200) and ordered to carry out 100 hours of community work by a French court on Friday, Reuters reports.

The picture's owner, Yvon Lambert, demanded $2 million in damages and €33,400 to cover restoration from Cambodian-born Rindy Sam, in her 30s.

The Avignon court ordered Sam to pay €1,000 in damages to the painting's owner, €500 to the gallery owner, and a symbolic one euro to the artist.

Like what you see? Sign up for ARTINFO's weekly newsletter to get the latest on the market, emerging artists, auctions, galleries, museums, and more.

Sam told the court that she was "overcome with passion" when she saw the painting in a gallery and spontaneously kissed the picture. She said earlier this year that she thought her lipstick had improved the pure white canvas.

DO MORE WITH ARTINFO