On Saturday 28 December, a man reportedly attacked a 75-year-old Picasso painting worth £20 million at the Tate Modern gallery, London.
Shakeel Ryan Massey, 20, from north-west London, appeared at Camberwell Green magistrates court on Monday 30 December and was charged with criminal damage. He indicated that he would deny the charge, but he has been denied bail and remanded in custody until a pre-trial hearing at Inner London crown court on Thursday 30 January.
The semi-abstract painting, Bust of a Woman, depicts Picasso’s lover Dora Maar, who sits on a black metal chair wearing a hat and green clothing. It was painted in Paris on 5 May 1944 during the final months of the Nazi occupation. The work has now been removed from display and is being assessed by conservation experts.
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The gallery gave no details about its condition, though, according to the BBC, a spokesperson said: "The work of art is with our conservation team for expert assessment. Tate Modern remains open."
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: "Detectives investigating an incident of criminal damage at the Tate Modern, Bankside, on Saturday, 28 December have charged a man."
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Tate Modern is the most popular visitor attraction in the UK, with a number of free exhibitions and an extensive collection of international artworks. It 2018 alone it saw almost 5.9 million visitors.
Yet, this is not the first instance of vandalism: in 2012, a prized Mark Rothko painting was attacked and a man was sentenced to two years in prison. Vladimir Umanets wrote his name and a statement about the visual movement Yellowism on the painting, claiming it was an artistic act.
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At London’s National Gallery in 1914, Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus was slashed by suffragette Mary Richardson, who was protesting against the arrest of Emmeline Pankhurst. The piece was restored and remains on display today.
