Oil protest may have raised Van Gogh’s value, argues lawyer
TWO Just Stop Oil protesters who glued themselves to a Vincent van Gogh painting may have increased its value, their lawyer suggested.
But it was a claim an expert dismissed at their trial.
Emily Brocklebank, 24, and Louis Mckechnie, 22, were yesterday found guilty of causing just under £2,000 of criminal damage to the picture’s frame.
They used Super Glue to attach themselves to Van Gogh’s 1889 work Peach Trees In Blossom at the Courtauld Gallery on the Strand on June 30, Westminster magistrates’ court heard .
CCTV footage showed them walking in the building at about 3.30pm after buying tickets for an exhibition.
They then took off their jackets to reveal orange Just Stop Oil t-shirts and attached themselves to the artwork.
Giving evidence, Mckechnie argued: “A completely logical person who is not a psychopath who owns a painting of this value by Vincent van Gogh would have respected the artist’s wishes.
“He said himself that the art of nature is not as valuable as nature itself.”
Francesca Cociani, defending the pair, then questioned Karen Serres, a curator at the gallery. She said: “It’s possible this painting has now increased in value because of the protest.
“Say the institute was to sell it on in 20 to 30 years, is it possible its value would now increase?”
Ms Serres replied: “Absolutely not.” She told the court it took three hours for the activists to be removed.
“There were concerns over how much of the glue had seeped into the frame and the painting itself.”
There were also worries about the solvent used by police to remove the activists, the court heard.
Ms Serries said the frame, worth about £20,000, dates back to the 18th century.
Sentencing the pair, District Judge Neeta Minhas said: “An 18th century frame which is hundreds of years old has been permanently damaged.”
She added: “The painting has significant, historical and art value and I consider the damage to be substantial. It is not minor, insignificant, temporary or trivial.”
Brocklebank, from Yeadon, Leeds, who appeared in person, and Mckechnie, from Weymouth, Dorset, who appeared in custody from HMP Peterborough, had denied the charges.
Mckechnie was jailed for three weeks.
Brocklebank received a 21-day sentence, suspended for six months. She was given an electronically monitored six-week curfew.