Famous cases of vandalized art Sunday’s destruction of a vase valued at $1 million at PAMM’s exhibit of artworks by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is unusual, experts say, but not unheard of. Here are some other notorious incidents of patrons damaging priceless artworks. • “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci. Doused with acid in 1956 at a museum in Montauban, France. Battered by a rock that same year. Red