'Girl with a Pearl Earring' targeted with glue and liquid by climate activists - NBC News

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Climate activists targeted Johannes Vermeer’s masterpiece “Girl with a Pearl Earring” with glue and liquid connected Thursday but 1 of the world’s astir iconic paintings was not damaged successful the latest of specified publicity-seeking stunts.

A video posted connected Twitter showed 1 antheral pouring a tin of reddish substance implicit different protester who appeared to effort to glue his caput to the glass-protected painting. The 2nd antheral stuck his manus to the sheet holding the centuries-old painting.

“The information of the coating has been investigated by our conservators. Fortunately, the glazed masterpiece was not damaged,” the depository said.

One of the men, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “Just Stop Oil,” shouted “How bash you consciousness erstwhile you spot thing beauteous and priceless being seemingly destroyed earlier your eyes? Do you consciousness outrage? Good. That is the feeling erstwhile you spot the satellite being destroyed earlier our precise eyes.”

He went connected to accidental that the coating is protected by solid arsenic 1 visitant to the depository shouts: “Shame connected you!” Other visitors besides showed their disapproval.

Police successful The Hague said they had arrested 3 radical for “public unit against property.”

Earlier this month, clime protesters threw mashed potatoes astatine a Claude Monet painting successful a German depository and a akin protestation happened successful London, wherever protesters threw crockery over Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” in the National Gallery. In some those cases, the paintings were not damaged.

“Art is defenseless, and the Mauritshuis firmly rejects attempts to harm it for immoderate intent whatsoever,” the depository said. It refused further remark since it argued it would lone springiness the protesters further publicity.