Climate activist tells court Van Gogh may have agreed with his painting protest
A climate activist who glued himself to a Vincent Van Gogh painting suggested the artist may have agreed with his demonstration – before comparing his actions to Martin Luther King.
Just Stop Oil supporters Emily Brocklebank, 24, and Louis Mckechnie, 22, have been found guilty of causing just under £2,000 of criminal damage to the picture's frame. Jonathan Bryan, prosecuting, said the activists 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.
Sentencing the pair at Westminster Magistrates' Court yesterday, District Judge Neeta Minhas said: "The painting has significant, historical and art value and I consider the damage to be substantial.
"It is not minor, insignificant, temporary or trivial."
She continued :" i find you both guilty of criminal damage, having no lawful excuse to cause damage but you did soon a reckless basis ."
Giving evidence, Mckechnie had argued: "I believe that 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, said Mckechnie believed an owner who "respected the wishes of the painter" would have "consented to minor damage".
The judge did not allow her to ask the defendant if he thinks the painter would agree with the cause.
Mr Bryan said in response: "Van Gogh may have agreed with your actions but we don't know because we can' t ask him ."
Asked if the protests were receiving public support, Mckechnie said: "In 1960, Martin Luther King was the most hated man in America.
"The civil rights movement still worked. It's not a popularity contest – people don't have to like what we're doing."
Mckechnie was jailed for three weeks.
Brock le bank received a 21- day sentence, suspended for six months.