Far-left climate activists from the radical group Just Stop Oil vandalized two Vincent van Gogh paintings at London’s National Gallery on Friday. The incident occurred shortly after two other members of the same group were sentenced for a similar attack in 2022.
Three activists splattered what appeared to be tomato soup on Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” paintings, one from 1888 and another from 1889 on loan from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The artworks were not damaged thanks to protective glass coverings.
The National Gallery quickly removed the paintings for examination before returning them to display later the same day.
The protest group shared video footage of the attack on social media, showing three individuals pouring soup over the paintings. This action seems to be in response to the sentencing of Phoebe Plummer, 23, and Anna Holland, 22, who were convicted for a similar attack on a “Sunflowers” painting in October 2022. Plummer received a two-year sentence, while Holland was given 20 months.
In the 2022 incident, Plummer and Holland threw tomato soup at the artwork and glued their hands to the wall beneath it. The frame of the painting suffered $13,00) worth of damage.
Just Stop Oil, known for its high-profile stunts targeting major sporting events and Britain’s transport networks, aims to pressure the UK government to halt oil and gas projects.
BREAKING: 2 VAN GOGH PAINTINGS SOUPED HOURS AFTER PHOEBE AND ANNA SENTENCED
3 Just Stop Oil supporters have thrown soup over 2 of Van Gogh paintings in the 'Poets and Lovers' exhibition at the National Gallery.
These people need to be locked up like Phoebe pic.twitter.com/oTvrjASEaT
— WeGotitBack 🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@NotFarLeftAtAll) September 27, 2024