Italian Eco-Friends Stick Their Hands To Botticelli’s Primavera Masterpiece At Florence Art Gallery

Italian greenies stick their hands up to Botticelli’s Primavera masterpiece in a Florence art gallery in the latest climate change stunt inspired by the Just Stop Oil vandals.

Three environmental activists clung to the glass cover of the iconic Renaissance painting in the Sala Botticelli of the Uffizi Gallery in Italy at 10.30am on Friday.

The protest was led by an anonymous man and two women – from the climate activist group Ultima Generazione “Last Generation” – who unfurled a banner in front of them that read: “Last Generation No Gas No Coal”.

Three environmental activists clung to the glass cover of the iconic Renaissance painting in the Sala Botticelli of the Uffizi Gallery in Italy at 10.30am this morning

Thankfully, no damage was done to the iconic artwork due to ‘special safeguards in place’

The activists, who had paid for tickets to enter the gallery, were expelled from the gallery by police, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

Fortunately, no damage was caused to the artwork thanks to the “special protections in place”.

A statement from the gallery read: “If it had not been for the special protections decided for the main masterpieces of the museum a few years ago by the management, we would have suffered significant damage today. the work, as has happened recently in other museums .’

However, the group has released a statement on its website explaining that it makes sure to take the “utmost care” and search for artwork so as not to cause damage.

They wrote: “We took great care not to damage Botticelli’s Primavera. Neither the frame nor the glass that protects the canvas were exposed to any risk.

The protest was led by an anonymous man and two women – from climate activist group Ultima Generazione ‘Last Generation’ – who unfurled a banner in front of them that read: ‘Last Generation No Gas No Coal’

“To be sure, we consulted restorers who advised us to use a glue suitable for glass and frames. It is important to us to value art, rather than damage it, as our governments do with the only planet at our disposal.

The protest comes after Just Stop Oil activists caused fury earlier this month when they staged a protest at the National Gallery by covering John Constable’s The Hay Wain with their own version featuring double yellow lines, pollution and a washing machine.

Two students who are eco-protesters covered the world-famous painting in London with a fake ‘undated’ version including planes, before sticking their hands to the frame during a protest against Britain’s oil and gas projects on 4th July.

The group said their reimagined version of the priceless 1821 work, which depicts a rural scene on the River Stour in Suffolk, shows a “nightmarish scene which shows how oil will destroy our countryside”.

Art historians and experts have all raised concerns that the vandals, two Brighton University students who once took part in the Just Stop Oil protests, could have caused irreparable damage to the leader -works of the 19th century.

Just Stop Oil protesters cover John Constable’s The Hay Wain at the National Gallery in London earlier this month

Just Stop Oil protesters stick their hands to the frame of John Constable’s The Hay Wain at the National Gallery on July 4

Just Stop Oil protesters cover John Constable’s The Hay Wain at the National Gallery in London

The National Gallery later issued a statement clarifying The Hay Wain suffered minor damage to its frame and to the varnish of the painting, both of which were treated before it was returned to room 34 of the gallery.

Dr Adrian Hilton, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, previously said: ‘How is this even possible at the National Gallery? I mean, it’s a John Constable masterpiece; a national treasure. Is it really so easy to hide it or – heaven forbid – destroy it?

Just Stop Oil activists have carried out similar protests over the past month at art galleries in Glasgow, Manchester and London – while the group blocked a motorway on Wednesday, causing nine hours of traffic chaos on the M25 .

Three eco-activists accused of sparking nine hours of traffic chaos by climbing the gantry over the M25 are to go on trial after pleading not guilty.

Cressida Gethin, 20, Alexander Wilcox, 21, and Emma Mani, 45, are charged with causing a public nuisance following a Just Stop Oil protest on Wednesday morning.

They are accused of forcing the freeway to close in both directions by climbing an overhead gantry and unfurling banners.

They pleaded not guilty at Ealing Magistrates’ Court, west London, on Friday.

Specialist police climbers lower a protester via a winch from climate campaign group Just Stop Oil after climbing a skyway gantry over the M25

The protester is led away by officers after three different parts of the M25 endured chaos on Wednesday with closures and huge traffic backlogs

The defendants are said to have hitched up at Junctions 14 and 15 on the southwest side of Surrey. The 117 mile M25 circles London.

Gethin, of Dorstone, Herefordshire; Wilcox, of South Fifth Street, Milton Keynes; and Mani, of High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, were released on bail.

They will next appear at Inner London Crown Court on August 19.

“Police were made aware that protesters were planning to disrupt the M25 and as a result police arrived at the scene,” said Beata Murphy, prosecuting officer at Ealing Magistrates’ Court.

“The decision was made to stop traffic on the road as it was simply too dangerous and protesters continued to pass through the gate.

“There were long traffic jams in both directions. At Heathrow Airport, several flights were unable to take off as staff were unable to get to work.

The court was told that a total of 26 flights had been delayed due to the Just Stop Oil protest at the Poyle interchange, causing ‘an incredible loss to the airlines’.

Ms Murphy added: “The protesters had harnesses on for safety and stuck to the gate.

“Once the police were at the top of the gantry, protesters became limp and non-compliant, putting themselves and officers at risk.”

A police van waits as protesters from the climate campaign group ‘Just Stop Oil’ scale overhead motorway gantries on the M25 between Junction 14 and Junction 15, causing the closure of both carriageways

Mani’s defense lawyer, Mr John Briant, said: ‘This is a complex case involving multiple statements and witnesses.

“I anticipate complex legal arguments and it is entirely appropriate to be tried in Crown Court.

“There are going to be arguments about Articles 10 and 11 in terms of human rights.

“There will be legal arguments as to whether the action constituted a public nuisance. If it amounted to a public nuisance, was there a reasonable excuse.

He added: “There will be arguments about recklessness and arguments about the police and how they reacted and the proportionality of the prosecution.”

The case was sent back to Crown Court due to its “unusual legal complexity”.

In a statement issued shortly before the protests, Just Stop Oil said it was “declaring M25 a site of civil resistance” this week.