Environmentalists Just Stop Oil risked ‘serious damage’ to £72.5m masterpiece Van Gogh Sunflowers with Heinz tomato soup attack, court heard

Two Just Stop Oil protesters who threw a can of Heinz tomato soup at Van Gogh’s masterpiece The Sunflower risked causing “serious damage” to the painting, a court has heard.

Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, both 22, threw the liquid into the Dutch artist’s painting while it was on display at the National Gallery on October 14, 2022.

The pair, who also stuck to the wall after the act, damaged the 17th-century Italianate frame in which the artwork was housed, although the 1888 oil on canvas painting was protected by a glass cover, Southwark Crown Court heard .

It meant the drawing itself, which is worth up to £72.5m and is one of the most recognizable pieces of art in the world, was thankfully unharmed.

On Monday, Plummer and Holland appeared in court, where they admitted to dumping the soup but denied causing criminal damage to the frame.

Francesca Kolar, prosecuting, told jurors: “At around 11am on 14 October 2022, the defendants attended the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London, pretending to be visitors just like any member of the public who visits the gallery that day day.

“They were actually at the gallery to protest on behalf of Just Stop Oil.

— You may have heard of Just Stop Oil. It’s a well-known direct action organization whose goals are – the clue is in the title – to stop oil and gas.

“On October 14th they walked to gallery 43, which housed one of the most sought-after works of art by the visiting public – ‘Sunflower’ by Vincent Van Gogh.

“When the coast was relatively clear, they went up to the ‘Sunflower’ painting.

They removed their jackets to reveal white T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Just Stop Oil”.

“They took two cans of Heinz tomato soup out of the bags and simultaneously threw the contents of the cans of tomato soup onto the painting.”

“They got down on their knees and started opening tubes of superglue and foaming it over the left hands. They braced their hands against the wall of the gallery behind them.

“By removing one of the world’s most famous paintings from the National Gallery, in Trafalgar Square, in the heart of the nation’s capital, Crown says it is a publicity stunt to draw attention to Just Stop Oil’s aims.”

“Although this risked serious damage to a priceless painting by one of the greatest artists – Vincent Van Gogh – there was, we say, real damage to the 17th century Italian frame chosen specifically to house this painting of to the National Gallery in 1999.”

Ms Kolar told the court that people were heard saying ‘Oh my God’ as the painting was attacked during the protest which was filmed: ‘It is unlikely to be a coincidence as within minutes the protest was uploaded to the Twitter of Just Stop Oil.

She said the Italian frame was “a piece of art in itself.”

Larry Keith, head of conservation at the National Gallery, said he was giving a lecture to postgraduate students when he was informed of the incident and went down to the gallery.

“The moment we walked in, there appeared to be two people attached to the wall… The painting itself was covered in liquid.”

He told the court that the painting was taken from the gallery on a trolley to be examined.

“We weren’t sure if the liquid had gotten into the frame and made the picture wet. It would have been very serious.

“My main concern was to make sure that the painting itself was not damaged.

“It was clear that the framework had been affected by the attack. It had changed in terms of its surface.

Ms. Kolar asked him if anyone had asked for the gallery’s permission to hold a protest there.

“I certainly wasn’t.” I don’t know that there was anyone.

Judge Christopher Hehir joked: “I can’t imagine Mr Keith is keen on people throwing soup over paintings.”

Plummer, who is representing himself, asked Mr Keith how he felt when he learned that the painting itself was not damaged.

“I was very relieved,” he said.

Holland, of Newcastle, and Plummer, of Lambeth, deny damaging property.

The trial continues tomorrow.