Killer Art/ Deaths of Artists
I'm looking for two things:
1. True, historical, or legendary stories of people being killed by art. I'm mostly being very literal here--paintings or sculptures falling on people and so on, poisoned paint--but if you know a story of a painting causing a riot or so on, or a famous painting being cursed, I'd like to hear that too.
So far I know of Christo's Umbrella's killing a woman in California, Luis Jiminez dying when a piece of sculpture fell on him, and two recent deaths by inflatable sculpture in the UK.
I don't mind if these stories are completely apocryphal, and if the art is famous so much the better. If the story doesn't end in death but only injury, near-death, or near-injury, that's okay too.
2. Unusual deaths or murders of famous artists. Again, legendary or apocryphal stories are completely acceptable.
Thanks!
Search terms tried: death by sculpture, death by painting, killer art, unusual death artists
ETA: Thank you so much to everyone who's offered an idea or a comment. I'm not able to thank everyone personally at the moment, but I appreciate your help!
Also, to clarify, "true" stories with murky provenance (or myths or legends) are fine for my purpose, but pure fiction isn't. And I should have specified, but I'm looking for visual art, not performing art or literature, so no music or theater--though those anecdotes may prove to be useful for others! Thanks again.
1. True, historical, or legendary stories of people being killed by art. I'm mostly being very literal here--paintings or sculptures falling on people and so on, poisoned paint--but if you know a story of a painting causing a riot or so on, or a famous painting being cursed, I'd like to hear that too.
So far I know of Christo's Umbrella's killing a woman in California, Luis Jiminez dying when a piece of sculpture fell on him, and two recent deaths by inflatable sculpture in the UK.
I don't mind if these stories are completely apocryphal, and if the art is famous so much the better. If the story doesn't end in death but only injury, near-death, or near-injury, that's okay too.
2. Unusual deaths or murders of famous artists. Again, legendary or apocryphal stories are completely acceptable.
Thanks!
Search terms tried: death by sculpture, death by painting, killer art, unusual death artists
ETA: Thank you so much to everyone who's offered an idea or a comment. I'm not able to thank everyone personally at the moment, but I appreciate your help!
Also, to clarify, "true" stories with murky provenance (or myths or legends) are fine for my purpose, but pure fiction isn't. And I should have specified, but I'm looking for visual art, not performing art or literature, so no music or theater--though those anecdotes may prove to be useful for others! Thanks again.