Allegations have been leveled once morest two climate activists following tomato soup was thrown at a painting by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. They are accused of criminal damage following they threw at the famous painting ‘Sunflowers’ at the National Gallery in London yesterday.
The women, aged 20 and 21, today pleaded not guilty to damaging the frame of the picture, the PA news agency reported.
Defense attorney Katie McFadden said prosecutors must prove damage was caused. The women were released on bail, the PA said, but are not allowed to enter galleries or museums, or carry paint or glue in public places. Her trial before a London court was scheduled for December 13.
Yesterday, the two activists threw canned tomato soup at the famous painting from 1888. Then they knelt in front of the artwork and taped their hands to the wall. According to the National Gallery, the work itself was undamaged. Only the frame was slightly damaged. The painting, which has an estimated value of around 84 million euros, was protected by a pane of glass.
The protest group Just Stop Oil, to which the two activists belong, is demanding that the British government stop all new oil and gas projects immediately.
