Climate change protesters targeted a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” at London’s Royal Academy of Arts on Tuesday, taping themselves to the painting’s frame and spray-painting “No New Oil” next to it. The protest, organized by supporters of the “Just Stop Oil” campaign, came a day after two activists from the group were arrested after taping themselves to the frame of John Constable’s “The Hay Wain” at London’s National Gallery. On Tuesday, five activists entered the Royal Academy and stuck an arm each inside the “Last Supper,” a full-size replica of Da Vinci’s famous 15th-century work. The Metropolitan Police said three men and two women were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. The Royal Academy said the gallery room was closed to the public and police were “called at the request of the protesters”. Just Stop Oil, which wants the government to stop licensing new oil and gas projects, has organized a series of high-profile protests over the past week. On Monday, two activists were arrested after they covered the policeman’s 1821 “The Hay Wain” with large sheets of paper depicting “an apocalyptic vision of the future”. They then each stuck a hand to the oil painting frame and protested as security personnel removed tourists and a group of students. The National Gallery said the frame of the painting “suffered minor damage” and “there was also some disturbance to the surface of the varnish on the painting”, but both were rectified and the painting was re-hung. Activists from “Just Stop Oil” also disrupted the British Grand Prix on Sunday when they sat on the track during a stoppage in the Formula 1 race at Silverstone in southern England. Police said six people were charged with conspiracy to cause a public nuisance at the match.
