Three individuals will appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday after being charged with causing criminal damage to two Vincent Van Gogh paintings in London’s National Gallery. The site’s “Poets and Lovers” exhibition was targeted by Stephen Simpson, Mary Somerville, and Phillipa Green. Both Sunflowers 1888 and Sunflowers 1889 were splashed with orange-coloured soup by the trio.
Metropolitan Police were called to the scene and made the arrests on Friday. No damage was found on either piece of artwork, both of which were temporarily taken off public view for further examination. The paintings formed part of an exhibition of over 60 works by the Dutch painter, who died aged 37 in 1890.
Both sunflower paintings, along with the painting of a maternal figure, formed a triptych of artworks shown together, as suggested by Van Gogh to his brother Theo before his death. Critically acclaimed by art reviews, The Times called the exhibition a “once-in-a-century” show, while The Guardian called it a “riveting rollercoaster ride”.
It is the third time in recent years an artwork in the National Gallery has been targeted. BBC Radio London, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide additional resources to follow updates on this and additional stories. Story ideas may be submitted to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
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