Italian masterpiece damaged by sprinklers

LONDON - A 16th century painting by Italian artist Titian was damaged after water sprinklers were used to put out a fire that broke out near a church in Venice.

The 1544 “David and Goliath” painting was soaked with water after fire fighters extinguished a blaze Sunday night in a building next to the Santa Maria della Salute church, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The painting depicts David praying next to a decapitated Goliath. It is one of three Titians that line the ceiling of the church. The other two were not damaged.

Though the masterpiece was removed for checking the extent of the water damage, Vittorio Sgarbi, head of Venice’s museums, art critic and television celebrity, said preliminary inspection established that the damage was not serious.