Vincent van Gogh’s paintings attacked again after Just Stop Oil activists sentenced

The Just Stop Oil supporters have thrown soup over two Vincent Van Gogh oil paintings hours after two activists were sent to prison for targeting one of the same works of art.

3 protesters hurled orange colour soup at Sunflowers 1888 and Sunflowers 1889 in the Poets and Lovers exhibition at the National gallery in central london. They have been arrested for suspicion of criminal damage. 

This is the second time that the paintings have been stained by soup. Earlier, Phoebe Plummer, 23 was given a two year jail term followed by Anna Holland, 22 who got a prison time of 20 months for throwing soup on Sunflower 1888 in October 2022.

The National art gallery said that the two paintings were removed for examination but were found undamaged.

It’s the third time that an artwork at the National Art Gallery has been targeted for protest action. A spokesperson from the NAG stated three people entered Room 6 of the exhibition just after 14.30 BST and threw soup-like liquid substances on the 2 original works.

The London City Police stated the 3 persons were arrested on the spot and more inquiries are undergoing.