Vincent van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers painting, Sunflowers, was nearly destroyed by climate activists threw tomato soup over it in London’s National Gallery on October 14, 2022. The painting, which was enclosed by glass, was undamaged with only minor damage to its frame. The National Gallery confirmed that the painting was completely unharmed, and the protesters had been arrested.
A new X-ray study confirmed that Van Gogh’s paints are fading over time, but the protesters hadn’t ruined the painting. The National Gallery later confirmed that only the frame had been slightly damaged and that the protesters had been arrested. The painting was not damaged, and the National Gallery confirmed that only the frame had been slightly damaged.
The National Gallery confirmed that the painting was completely unharmed, with only minor damage to the frame. The visceral impact of seeing a priceless artwork splattered is still present, but the painting is completely undamaged. Representatives for the National Gallery shared that the painting was under glass and was undamaged, with only minor harm to its frame.
In January 2019, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam announced that the painting Sunflowers would not be leaving Amsterdam anymore due to its fragile condition. A collection of artists has argued that the Just Stop Oil activists who threw soup at Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting should not be jailed as the stunt itself was a work of art.
📹 Just Stop Oil activists throw tomato soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting at National Gallery
Just Stop Oil activists have thrown tomato soup over Van Gogh’s masterpiece Sunflowers at the National Gallery in Trafalgar …
Why is Van Gogh Sunflowers so valuable?
Sunflowers is a powerful painting by Vincent van Gogh, featuring a simple motif of sunflowers in a vase. Van Gogh painted multiple versions of the sunflowers, but only completed five, which are on display in museums worldwide. The painting was intended to decorate Van Gogh’s yellow house in Arles, but he completed only five, which are now on display in Amsterdam, Munich, London, Tokyo, and Philadelphia. Paul Gauguin, who lived with Van Gogh for over two months, asked for one of the sunflowers in exchange for some studies.
Is Mona Lisa damaged?
The Mona Lisa, acquired by France in 1797, has faced numerous vandalisms and thefts since its inception. The painting has been subjected to various forms of damage, including spray paint, teacups, caked surfaces, and even soup splashes. In 1956, two vandals attempted to deface it with razor blades and rocks, but each time, the Mona Lisa has emerged without damage. Artists like Marcel Duchamp and Salvador Dalí have also altered the painting’s image, with Dalí attributing it to its unique ability to provoke violent aggressions. ARTnews has documented five instances of the Mona Lisa being vandalized or stolen.
Was the Mona Lisa damaged by acid?
The Mona Lisa was attacked twice in 1956. The first attack occurred in Montauban, France, where an acid attack damaged the painting’s lower parts. The second attack occurred in Bolivia, where a homeless man named Ugo Unzaga Villegas threw a rock at the painting, chipping paint off her elbow. The motives are unclear, but the damage was repaired, leaving the Mona Lisa intact and protected by glass casing. The attacks highlight the ongoing ongoing controversy surrounding the Mona Lisa’s artistic legacy.
Did Sunflowers get damaged?
Anna Holland and Phoebe Plummer, both 22 years of age, were indicted on charges of criminal damage to the artwork’s frame. The indictment was based on the allegation that the defendants had thrown Heinz tomato soup on the artwork. The invaluable canvas, one of five versions exhibited globally, was undamaged and subsequently returned to display.
Why did protestors throw soup on painting?
Environmental activists have engaged in a form of artistic expression that involves the throwing of soup at the Mona Lisa, a renowned 16th-century artwork. This action has been undertaken with the objective of advocating for the right to “healthy and sustainable food.” The Louvre asserts that the artwork is safeguarded and unharmed, notwithstanding the actions of the demonstrators.
What famous painting was ruined by soup?
Two activists associated with the organization Just Stop Oil (JSO), Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, have been convicted of criminal damage for their actions of throwing tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London. The assault resulted in damage to the gold-hued frame of the glass-covered painting, which had previously been reported as having sustained damage.
Did they fix the Sunflowers by Van Gogh?
The fourth version of a painting, Sunflowers, was attacked by environmental activists from the Just Stop Oil campaign on October 14, 2022, while it was on display at the National Gallery in London. The activists threw tomato soup at the painting, causing minor damage to the frame. The painting was covered with plexiglass and returned to display the next day. The activists were found guilty of criminal damage in July 2024 and sentenced to 20 and 24 months in prison, respectively. The painting was previously destroyed by a US air raid during World War II.
What painting did Just Stop Oil from destroying?
Two Just Stop Oil activists, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, have been found guilty of criminal damage after throwing soup over Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery in London in October 2022. The gallery estimated the damage to be “minor” and the artwork, valued at £72. 5m, had minor damage. The demonstration involved the activists gluing their hands to the wall below the painting, protected by a glass pane.
Where is Van Gogh Sunflowers ruined?
Environmental activists at London’s National Gallery have engaged in acts of vandalism, defacing a Vincent Van Gogh painting with tomato soup, which has resulted in slight damage to the frame. The painting, entitled “Sunflowers,” was created by the artist and was a highly esteemed work of art. The actions of the protesters have prompted concerns regarding the environmental impact of the art world and its potential impact on the environment.
Are Van Gogh’s sunflowers ok?
The National Gallery has confirmed minor damage to the frame of a 134-year-old painting, but not to the painting itself, which is protected by a glass panel. Just Stop Oil campaigners have confirmed that those involved knew this was the case. The protest crackdown in the government’s Public Order Bill has caused minor cost and disruption to the gallery, but the shock factor is what makes a good stunt. The National Gallery may recoup the cost of frame repair in free publicity. Art is not separated from the turmoil and struggle of everyday life, as Van Gogh understood.
📹 Activists charged after soup thrown at Van Gogh painting
… of criminal damage after protests including throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting in the National Gallery.
They would be better employed using different tactics to get their message across. For example, informing the public about the Greenwashing that is occuring worldwide About how the country that is hosting the next Climate Summit – COP 27 – is also busy imprisoning climate activists. Or the fact that the UK is not only doing fxxx all about Climate, it is introducing ANTI – CLIMATE policies such as fracking and new oil drilling.
I can’t imagine what the pain felt like when they had to peel 2 layers of skin off they’re hands to get unglued from that wall. They were arrested but it’s a misdemeanor charge. They’re not even going to be spending any time in jail after they post bail if they even have to post bail. The charges will either be dismissed or probation . They’ll be back Now the museums will restrict backpacks, big bags and search your purse or small bag when you go in. Thanks to them.
The action was worth it for that alone, to see people who had never seen a painting by Van Gogh before or who were interested in an art painting at all, suddenly found their meaning in art and suddenly became the greatest art lovers and feel personally attacked by it and going through the roof about it. This hypocrisy, which almost everyone brings here to the surface under the pretext of art and vandalism, demanding draconian punishments, it was clear during the action that the picture would not be damaged. There is no damage to the picture. But the damage to society is visible, the action says a lot about it. Let go of their hatred by false pretenses. Very nicely done.
When is destroying art part of protesting when all their doing is taking the attention away from what their protesting to their violent act. These individuals do not fear the consequences for their actions because it’s always a slap on the wrist with a fine this is why they keep continuing to do these things. They need to start sending these people to prison not jail prison and you will see how quick they switch their tactics to something else because if they don’t do something quick sooner or later a precious art will be destroyed by one of them.
Unpopular opinion: While I agree vandalism is dumb and pointless, and recklessness in the name of activism is wrong, the fact that so many people are reacting so emotionally as if they were personally attacked is wild to me. Stop wishing harm on people for splashing soup on a piece of glass, the painting wasn’t even touched.
These incidents always end up in zero consequence for the protesters. Inexcusable. This is a priceless work of art … what if there is an off chance the glass failed and liquid leaked into the canvas? The frame is likely worth thousands of dollars. Now damaged. Some poor custodian will have to scrub soup off the floors and likely the wall will need repainting. Some little old lady or poor art student who saved up for years to visit the Paris museum are now cheated out of seeing this artists’ work … and likely the entire wing had to be closed for the day. It should be a minimum 1 year sentence for anyone who deface a museum in this way. People need to be conditioned to behave … if they see 1 year in jail, they’ll stop. If they see community service and hero status, they won’t. If you are so inclined to vandalize property, piss in the soup or something at an extravagent banquet for a fossil fuel company executives. Don’t ruin art for the rest of us.
Vandalism of a beautiful painting, yes oil production is bad. But it’s one of the world’s main power sources, if not, the most used. Oil is used so often in our modern day world that most people don’t care anymore, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything. I don’t think nothing should be done but this isn’t something to fix the problem. This is giving more reason for people to hate others who are actually devoting there lives and spending time to try and stop or calm down problems like pollution,oil usage or other things.
I believe in freedom of speech, right to demonstrate your cause. But if your objective is to vandalize museum art work, break windows of someone’s business property that is crossing the line. The trouble with today’s judicial system there are no consequences. If you commit a crime like this you should spend 72 hours in jail, and during that time you will be working an 8 hour day cleaning, yard work or some activity, but most likely they get a citation and small fine. Bib
Just heard about this, absolutely appalled and so glad the painting was safe. Why not protest at a gas pipeline site or at a freaking site of relevance?? Why not spend your time planting trees, picking up garbage, or educating people?? They’re so self righteous and are pretending to do good when they’re merely looking for their 15 mins of fame.
What does Art have to do with their protest? I am so disgusted with those who are protesting against any energy supply we are dependent upon now, with NO real alternative supply to switch to, to replace it. Where is the enormous energy supply we need going to come from? Solar? Wind? neither are sufficient for world demand. When I am angry with the cost of my heating and electric bill I think I need to switch to another company I realize I can’t because there is no competitor. If these girls were mine I would be so ashamed of their behavior I would not support them in any manner. what a horrible foolish wasted act of immaturity.
Put them in jail fine them .Teach them to respect that which is not theirs since their parents failed to do so. And if the kids can’t pay for it sue the parents. This generation needs taught lessons not learned at home. This is inexcusable. If this is about oil ask them how they got there. Ask them how the food they eat got there. Ask them how they got the super glue there. It’s in a plastic vial. Made with petroleum. Spare the tod spoil the child.
It’s sad that despite our awareness of climate change, people still remain skeptical or down right in denial to it’s severity. But it’s even sadder when people like this give them a reason to be in denial. I get that it may seem easier to get negative attention on yourself rather then positive, but all that manages to do is harm the cause you’re fighting for. The attempt they made to destroy this beautiful piece of history is down right disgusting. I can’t remember who said this, but one of the comments I saw on this article sums this up perfectly. ” This is vandalism, not activism. “