Children Questioned After Art Vandalized

Police trying to find out who vandalized three Matisse paintings at a Rome museum questioned several schoolchildren on Friday.

Police believe the students were among two groups of schoolchildren, one from an elementary school and the other from a high school - who were visiting the Capitoline Museum on Thursday morning, when two of the paintings were punctured and a pencil line was drawn on a third.

People who visited in tour groups Thursday also were being questioned, said Capt. Roberto Conforti, of the paramilitary police’s art squad.

One of the punctured works, “Pianist and Checker Players,” was on loan from Washington’s National Gallery, which sent experts to inspect the damage. A spokeswoman said the experts found the damage to be “minor and repairable.”

The painting, which was to be returned to Washington for repairs, was placed behind locked doors, along with the other punctured canvas - “The Japanese woman,” from a private collection.

“Zorah Standing,” from Russia’s Hermitage Museum was marked by a pencil but remained on display.

French artist Henri Matisse died in 1954.