Just Stop Oil protesters have caused unrest at the Royal Academy by gluing their hands onto the frame of The Last Supper.
In a protest calling for a stoppage to new oil and gas licenses in the UK, five Just Stop Oil supporters entered the premises and sprayed paint on the wall before attaching themselves to the historic piece of art.
It is the fifth time in the last week activists from the group have caused disruption, the most notable occasion being at the British Grand Prix where a small group entered the track.
Just Stop Oil protesters at the Royal Academy
Image: GB News
Just Stop Oil protesters have gained notoriety for their disruptive protests, which they say is drawing attention to a vital issue.
Just Stop Oil
The Last Supper, from 1520, is attributed to Giampietrino and is a full-scale copy of Leonardo Da Vinci's depiction of Jesus announcing that one of his Twelve Apostles will betray him.
One of the group's supporters, 21-year-old art student Jessica Agar, called on the directors of the gallery to refuse to open until the Government commits to a future of no new oil.
She said: “No painting is worth more than my six-month-old nephew’s life. No sculpture can feed babies starving because extreme heat killed food crops.
The group are calling for an end to new oil and gas licenses in the UK.
Just Stop Oil
"Nurses are lining up outside food banks, not galleries. If the directors of this gallery really believe that art has the power to change the world then I demand that they claim that power, close and refuse to open until the government commits to no new oil."
The protest follows days of action from the Just Stop Oil group which has seen six charged over their disruption of the British Grand Prix.
Five protesters stormed the Wellington Straight, the fastest point of the Northamptonshire track, before sitting down during the opening lap of Sunday’s race.
The contest had already been suspended following Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu’s high-speed crash, but a number of cars sped by as the group, understood to be from climate activists Just Stop Oil, launched their protest.
They were swiftly dragged away by marshals to cheers from the watching crowd.
Northamptonshire Police said David Baldwin, 46, of Stonesfield, Witney, Oxfordshire, Emily Brocklebank, 24, of Yeadon, Leeds, Alasdair Gibson, 21, of no fixed address, Louis McKechnie, 21, of London, Bethany Mogie, 40, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, and Joshua Smith, 28, of Manchester, have all been charged with conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
All six will appear at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday morning.
The force said a 43-year-old man also arrested in connection with the incident has been released under investigation pending further inquiries.