One of the most treasured paintings at The National Gallery in London was attacked last week by Just Stop Oil activists, almost 110 years since it was attacked by a suffragette. The Toilet of Venus by the leading Spanish Baroque painter Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) has been removed from display after sustaining some damage.  

The incident, which occurred just before 11am on 6th November 2023, was recorded by the climate group and later posted on X. In the video, two activists wearing ‘Just Stop Oil’ t-shirts repeatedly hit the painting’s protective glass case with emergency safety hammers after stepping over the guard rope.  

The pair then dropped their tools, declaring to the shocked gallery visitors that “women did not get the vote by voting. It is time for deeds and not words. It is time to just stop oil.” Before sitting on the floor, they added “politics is failing us. Politics failed women in 1914. If millions will die due to new oil and gas licensing, if we love art, if we love our families, we must just stop oil.” 

Metropolitan Police officers arrested the two perpetrators, named as Hanan, 22, and Harrison, 20, on suspicion of causing criminal damage. Meanwhile, around 100 other Just Stop Oil protesters were also arrested during a slow march in the road at Whitehall for allegedly breaching section 7 of the Public Order Act, which was introduced this year. 

Also known as ‘The Rokeby Venus’, the vandalised artwork was painted by Velázquez between 1647 and 1651. It portrays a nude Venus, the Roman goddess of love, in a sumptuous setting reclining with her back to the viewer as she gazes at herself in a mirror that is propped up by her son, Cupid. 

Over 100 years ago, the unlucky painting was targeted for the first time at the National Gallery in 1914. Suffragette Mary Richardson (1882/3-1961) famously struck the figure of Venus seven times with a meat cleaver to protest the imprisonment of fellow activist Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928). Conservators were able to successfully restore the slashed painting.  

Richardson explained at the time that “I have tried to destroy the picture of the most beautiful woman in mythological history as a protest against the Government for destroying Mrs. Pankhurst, who is the most beautiful character in modern history.” 

Unlike the suffragettes, Just Stop Oil has so far avoided causing major damage to any of its targeted artworks. The group responded to the recent incident, stating: “disappointingly little has changed since 1914. From governments destroying the most beautiful character in history, to governments destroying our home, our families and our institutions in order to enrich criminal oil barons and corporations. The only thing that has ever stood in their way is ordinary people, taking to the streets to demand change. We invite everyone to join us.” 

Conservators have removed the painting from public display to assess and repair its surface layer, which sustained minimal damage whilst the protective glass was being smashed. The National Gallery have not revealed when the painting will return to the gallery.