At the National Gallery in London on Friday, two “Just Stop Oil” protesters made their way to van Gogh’s masterpiece “Sunflowers” and drenched the painting with a can of tomato soup. The protesters then superglued themselves to a wall.
Vincent van Gogh masterpiece splattered with tomato soup by oil protesters
A work titled “Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous and influential painters in the history of Western art, was defaced by Just Say Oil protesters who hurled Heinz tomato soup at the canvas.
The criminal vandalizing of the masterpiece was committed by Anna Holland, 20, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, at the National Gallery in central London. The protesters, after dousing the painting with soup, superglued themselves to a wall inside the gallery, the Daily Mail reported.
The value of van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” is estimated to range between $76-$94.6 million.
In a statement posted to Twitter, the National Gallery said, despite being covered completely in tomato soup, the painting itself is unharmed, CNN reported.
“There is some minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed,” the gallery said
In a subsequent tweet, the gallery explained the painting was protected by a glaze (i.e., protected by Plexiglas).
Protesters arrested and charged
Holland and Plummer were arrested on charges of criminal damage and aggravated trespass, the Metropolitan police said.
String of protests targeting works of art
This outrageous, soup-based attack follows a string of protests on major works of art, including cake smeared over the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, and protesters gluing their hands on pieces by Botticelli and Boccioni. Just a few days ago, two protesters were arrested in Australia after gluing themselves to a Picasso, TMZ reported.
14th day of oil protests, group vandalizes Scotland Yard
Hours after the van Gogh painting was defaced, other eco-zealots from the rebellious Just Stop Oil campaign group moved their protest to New Scotland Yard, where they sprayed orange paint over the law enforcement agencies sign at its Westminster, London headquarters. Officers made 24 arrests in what marks the 14th consecutive day of protests causing mayhem across Britain’s capital city.
Van Gogh’s paintings among the most expensive ever sold
At least nine works by Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh are among the most expensive paintings ever sold, many of which are housed in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. His “Sunflowers” is estimated to be worth up to $94.6 million. His most valuable painting is “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” worth an estimated $171 million.
“Sunflowers” is actually the title of two series of still-life paintings by van Gogh. The one vandalized at the National Gallery in London was painted in 1888 and is the fourth version (F454).
