Activists face jail for pouring soup on one of world’s ‘most valuable artworks’

Two Just Stop Oil activists could be jailed after they “came within the width of a pane of glass of destroying one of the most valuable artworks in the world” by pouring soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers, a judge has said.

Anna Holland and Phoebe Plummer, both 22, caused as much as £10,000 worth of damage to the artwork’s frame, prosecutors say, when they targeted it at London’s National Gallery in 2022.

The duo were found guilty of criminal damage by a jury after three hours of deliberations at Southwark Crown Court.

After the verdicts were read out, Judge Christopher Hehir – who last week jailed the co-founder of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion for five years at the same court – told the activists that staff at the gallery had “frantically” inspected the painting for damage after the incident.

“They were worried the soup may have dripped through by condensation,” he said.

Prosecutors believe the soup may have caused £10,000 worth of damage to the artwork’s precious frame, he added.

The protesters, wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts, threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the 1888 work in October 2022, before kneeling down in front of the painting and glueing their hands to the wall beneath it.

Tomato soup covered the image, which is covered by glass, as well as parts of the gold-coloured frame.

Visitors were escorted out by security, who then shut the doors to the room where the painting hangs.

A number of Just Stop Oil supporters were present in the court room as the verdict was delivered.

A lawyer for Holland said they would now consider whether to appeal.

In 2022, Plummer said in front of the painting: “What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice?

“Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people? The cost-of-living crisis is part of the cost-of-oil crisis.”

The protesters were later seen being bundled into a police van at the back entrance of the gallery.

Painted in Arles in the south of France in August 1888, van Gogh’s painting shows 15 sunflowers standing in a yellow pot against a yellow background.

The priceless work was the second from the National Gallery to be selected as a target for protest action by Just Stop Oil in 2022, with two supporters glueing themselves to John Constable’s The Hay Wain in July of that year.

The judge told the duo they will be released on bail until they are sentenced on September 27 at the same court.

He warned the activists to come to court “prepared in practical and emotional terms to go to prison on that date”.

The offence of criminal damage can be punished with a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The women’s bail conditions stipulate that they must not carry glue, paint or any adhesive substance in a public place, and must not visit any galleries or museums.

After the verdict, Katie McFadden from Hodge Jones and Allen, who represents Holland, said: “I am extremely disappointed with the decision today to find Anna Holland and Phoebe Plummer guilty.

“The Government continuously proves that they have little to no interest in attempting to curb climate change.

“They have proven that they have a great deal of interest in investing time and money into prosecuting young people trying to fight for the future of themselves and their children.

“If the Government put those resources into green initiatives, then my client would not have to protest and could focus on living their lives.

“We are disappointed about the limitations imposed, which prevented Holland and Plummer from fully explaining their motivations while giving evidence.

“We are considering whether we will appeal.”