National Gallery bans liquids after repeated protestor attacks

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers was targeted at the gallery which caused damage to the frame, estimated to be worth £10,000 to £20,000, and paintings, according to prosecutor James Bowker.

Three Just Stop Oil supporters, Stephen Simpson, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, Mary Somerville, also of Bradford, and Phillipa Green, of Penryn, Cornwall, all pleaded not guilty to criminal damage at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month.

The trio will next appear at Southwark Crown Court on 28 October.

This was shortly after two Just Stop Oil activists were jailed for pouring soup and causing £10,000 worth of damage in October 2022 to the frame of Sunflowers by the Dutch artist.

Phoebe Plummer was handed a two-year jail term, while Anna Holland was sentenced to 20 months.

Two supporters also glued themselves to Constable’s The Hay Wain in July 2022.

Protesters allegedly smashed the glass protecting the Rokeby Venus, or The Toilet of Venus, and caused more than £6,000 of damage in November 2023.