Two Just Stop Oil activists are accused of damaging the National Gallery’s painting “Rokeby Venus,” court has heard. According to reports, Harrison Donnelly, 23, and Hanan Ameur, 25, allegedly attacked the 17th-century work by Diego Velázquez while wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts. The allegations state that the activists smashed glass around the artwork using a hammer and then caused damage to the painting’s varnish. The painting is described in reporting as a high-value work, commonly estimated at around £100 million, and is displayed by the National Gallery.
The case is being handled through the court process, with the accounts of what happened presented as part of proceedings. Details about the extent of the damage, the timing of the incident, and the specific legal charges are not included in the provided excerpts. The reports identify the two defendants and the artwork and describe the alleged method of attack, but do not indicate any outcome or sentence at this stage.
