Twitter titters at vandalised Roman sitter—was it a child who did it?

Officials at the National Trust charity in the UK were dismayed earlier this year after bright blue markings were found daubed all over the face, arms and torso of a statue by the sculptor John Bacon at Croome Court in Worcestershire. The 230-year-old statue of the Roman Naiade (water nymph), known as Sabrina, was covered in childish scrawls, prompting nervous parents to wonder if their own offspring had grabbed a crayon and committed this crime against art.

According to the Birmingham Mail, numerous people took to Twitter to comment. A contributor called Sarah Sheward tweeted that “in an ideal world this wouldn’t happen… parents should be watching [their children] but have we all not looked away at some point?” Jason Thompson from the Culture Northumberland cultural organisation cheekily added: “The most middle-class vandalism I’ve ever heard of. Can we send aid of some kind to the people of Worcestershire? Is there a helpline for them with trained counsellors? And don’t they have children there?” We think the expressive child-like marks and interest in Roman history point to a Midlands Cy Twombly in the making.