Johannes Vermeer's iconic portray "Woman with a Pearl Earring" was focused by local weather activists at a Dutch museum on Thursday within the newest public demonstration of vandalism on well-known artwork items.
Footage posted on social media confirmed one man pouring a can of what seemed to be a sort of liquid whereas additionally attempting to attach himself to the long-lasting paintings on the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague. He was joined by one other man who was sporting a "Simply Cease Oil" t-shirt and shouted a message at patrons.
"How do you are feeling whenever you see one thing stunning and priceless being apparently destroyed earlier than your eyes?" he mentioned. "Do you are feeling outrage? Good. The place is that feeling whenever you see the planet being destroyed earlier than our very eyes?"
As guests voiced their displeasure to the protester, he informed them the artwork is protected by glass and it is "simply fantastic."
"Susceptible individuals within the world south, they should be protected," he mentioned. "The way forward for our youngsters will not be protected."
Police mentioned in a tweet that they've arrested three individuals for "public violence in opposition to property." In a press release to the Related Press, the museum mentioned Vermeer's famed portray was not broken.
"The situation of the portray has been investigated by our conservators. Fortuitously, the glazed masterpiece was not broken," the museum mentioned.
CBS Information reached out to the Mauritshuis museum, however didn't instantly hear again.
This incident comes after a current string of eco-inspired protests all through Europe. Earlier this month, environmental protesters threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" portray on the Nationwide Gallery in central London. On Sunday, two local weather activists threw mashed potatoes at Claude Monet's "Les Meules" in Germany's Museum Barberini after which glued themselves beneath the portray.