'Passionate' kiss lands art lover in French court

An art lover stood trial on Tuesday and was accused of kissing a $2 million dollars (986,000 pounds) valued painting, while wearing red lipstick and damaging the painting. If convicted she will pay a fine of 4,500 Euros ($6,234).

The defendant Sam Rindy, an artist of Cambodian origin, said she was overcome with passion after she saw the painting of the famous US artist, Cy Twombly in a French Gallery wall in July 2007. She kissed the painting while wearing fresh red lipstick and damaged the painting, which had a blank white canvas as the background. Rindy told reporters earlier this year she did it to improve the white, untitled painting. The deputy prosecutor in the southern French city of Avignon accused Rindy of “savagery” for leaving a lipstick smear and is seeking 4,500 Euros fine. The picture’s owner, Yvon Lambert, however wants a higher damage amount of $2 million dollars and a further 33,400 Euros for painting restoration purposes. Sam Rindy Her lawyer Mr. Ambrosino told the court that she was overcome by emotion and did this mistake. He described the kiss as an “act of love”. Lambert’s lawyer countered at the court and said in love, there are two consenting people unlike what happened at the gallery. The court will deliver its verdict on November 16. Most likely she will pay a fine. I think she deserved to be fined, as an artist she should know how every artist values his or her painting including the owners. To damage it in a childish manner is unacceptable. She better restrain herself in the future. I think the galleries should put the painting behind steel bars and glasses, there are too many vandals trying to damage the paintings.