Environmental Protestors Deface Protective Glass of Velazquez Masterpiece at National Gallery

On Monday, authorities detained two environmental protestors after they defaced the protective covering of Diego Velázquez’s esteemed painting in the National Gallery in London, according to the police report.

Members of the climate advocacy organization Just Stop Oil wielded miniature hammers to attack the glass safeguarding Velázquez’s “The Toilet of Venus,” widely known as “The Rokeby Venus.” The resulting damage left the glass with multiple fractures, as captured in photographs.

The protest by Just Stop Oil, which has a history of staging demonstrations at art venues and government buildings, was a call to action for the cessation of new fossil fuel project approvals in the United Kingdom.

On the day of the incident, Just Stop Oil explained that the choice to target the iconic 17th-century painting by Velázquez, renowned for its artistry, was symbolic—echoing its defacement during the women’s suffrage movement in 1914.

Proclaiming their message to onlookers, the activists from Just Stop Oil stated, “It is time for deeds, not words,” drawing a parallel to the historical acts of defiance by women who were denied voting rights.

They continued to critique the political system’s ineffectiveness, drawing parallels between past and present failures to address critical societal issues.

Following the incident, the police apprehended the pair on suspicion of causing criminal damage. In response, the National Gallery temporarily withdrew “The Toilet of Venus” to allow for an assessment by art conservators.

The gallery conveyed that the suspects appeared to strike the painting using tools resembling emergency hammers. The gallery was evacuated, the authorities were notified, and the artwork was substituted with an alternative piece upon reopening the room.

“The Toilet of Venus” artfully portrays Venus, the deity of affection, in a reclined pose viewed from the back, with Cupid presenting a mirror to her.

The artwork became a target of suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914 as a form of protest against the incarceration of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst. Although it suffered slashes, it was later restored to its former integrity.

Additional arrests were made by the police on the same day, detaining numerous Just Stop Oil protestors executing a “slow march” and disrupting traffic flow on Whitehall in London as part of their protest tactics.

The previous year, another duo from the same group threw tomato soup over Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery, as a stance against fossil fuel extraction. Thankfully, the protective glass spared the painting from any damage.

Just Stop Oil, part of a global movement of youth-led direct-action protest groups, receives support from the Climate Emergency Fund based in the U.S., which advocates for radical environmental activism.

The group has become known for their recurrent, conspicuous protests that have disrupted major roadways, sporting events, and more.

British legal authorities, in response to these disruptive demonstrations, have broadened the powers of the police in July, enhancing their capacity to intervene in traffic obstructions and manage stationary protests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Just Stop Oil protest

More about Just Stop Oil protest

• Just Stop Oil’s Previous Artwork Protests
• Diego Velázquez’s “The Toilet of Venus”
• National Gallery’s Statement on Vandalism
• Climate Emergency Fund
• UK’s Expanded Police Powers