The Louvre Museum in France experienced significant setbacks as a leakage incident caused damage to some artworks within its painting gallery. On the evening of the 12th, a failure in a heating supply pipe was detected, leading to a water leak that lasted for 40 minutes. Despite the swift response from fire authorities, water seeped into the ceilings of several exhibition rooms, affecting the famous ceiling painting 'The Victory of French Painting' by Charles Méniér, completed in 1822. This artwork depicts renowned French painters nestled among angels and clouds, raising concerns about its preservation and the overall state of the museum.

This incident marks another troublesome event for the Louvre, which is dealing with outdated facilities that are increasingly vulnerable to water-related issues. Just a few months prior to this incident, a similar leak in the ancient Egyptian library damaged about 300 to 400 rare books. With the Louvre's infrastructure deteriorating, ongoing funding and maintenance issues may lead to more frequent occurrences of such incidents, compromising its historical and artistic treasures.

Additionally, the museum has faced various other controversies recently. Just a day before the leak, French police arrested several individuals, including two museum staff, suspected of engaging in fraudulent ticket re-use schemes since the summer of 2024. Previously, in October of last year, a group of thieves made headlines by stealing royal jewels valued at €8.8 million using a cherry picker, further illustrating the challenges the Louvre is currently facing.